Since the start of the Russo-Ukrainian war, Ukraine has captured around 200 T-72B3 tanks from Uralvagonzavod, which operates in Nizhny Tagil, and the Ukrainian industry does not have much experience with the modernized version.
Thus, when a Ukrainian tank with the call sign “Kochevnik” had problems with its captured Russian T-72B3 – which the local expertise could not immediately solve -, turned directly to the technical helpline of the Russian manufacturer.
During his call, Kocsevnyik complained that the tank’s compressors were not working and that the electronics responsible for rotating the tower were also destroyed during use. The Russian specialist who reached first promised the trolling Ukrainian soldier that he would contact the engine manufacturer and report the problem to the design office as well.
Later, he also reached the director of the company, Andrey Abakumov, who asked the Ukrainian soldier to describe his armor’s problems in detail on WhatsApp. In the end, no long-term cooperation was realized from the remote assistance, as “Kochsevnik” finally revealed his origin and hung up the phone.
The cover image is an illustration. Cover image credit: Papichev Aleksandr via Getty Images
