The international delegation, headed by Ana Lucía Bueno, ICRC Public Health Coordinator, and Sujit Panda, Head of the Physical Rehabilitation…
No matter how cold and gloomy the harsh winter forest may seem, it can provide reliable shelter for our warriors, instilling calm and confidence in them.
This is something the tank crews of the 108th Separate Assault Battalion “Da Vinci Wolves” use to great effect. Especially since such terrain is the natural environment for these predators.
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- Антона Шевельова / Міністерство оборони України
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- Антона Шевельова / Міністерство оборони України
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- Антона Шевельова / Міністерство оборони України
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- Антона Шевельова / Міністерство оборони України
However, good cover is only part of the task, because during combat missions even the strongest armor may require additional protection.
And here our craftsmen truly excelled.
The guys not only provided their steel giant with excellent camouflage, thanks to which it literally became part of the surrounding landscape, but also equipped it with a special screen to protect against FPV drone strikes with shaped-charge munitions.
This dome was assembled almost entirely from improvised materials, such as ordinary metal grates, rods, and pieces of rubber.
With this modernization, the tank looks as if it has burst into our world straight out of a post-apocalyptic film like Mad Max, with its monstrous machines assembled from interwoven scraps of metal.
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- Фото Антона Шевельова / Міністерство оборони України
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- Фото Антона Шевельова / Міністерство оборони України
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- Фото Антона Шевельова / Міністерство оборони України
Rough, primal, yet with a living heart — played by its crew.
Unlike the Russians with their armored “sheds”, our fighters did not shackle their giant or its tactical capabilities, because not only protection matters, but also functionality.
Drawing on lessons learned from the enemy’s mistakes, they installed a dome that does not restrict turret movement and allows fire to be delivered through a full 360 degrees.
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- Фото Антона Шевельова / Міністерство оборони України
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- Фото Антона Шевельова / Міністерство оборони України
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- Фото Антона Шевельова / Міністерство оборони України
In addition, a very successful solution is the presence of three emergency exits, installed in case of urgent evacuation. If necessary, this allows the crew to choose the most convenient route and save precious time.
In contrast, occupiers often burn alive in their disabled tanks because, due to multiple layers of welded mesh and rebar, they are simply unable to get out.
As additional measures, the 108th Assault Battalion has also installed reactive armor on its armored vehicles, covering, among other things, the tracks.
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- Фото Антона Шевельова / Міністерство оборони України
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- Фото Антона Шевельова / Міністерство оборони України
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- Фото Антона Шевельова / Міністерство оборони України
This is extremely important, as FPV drones often target precisely this area. Once armored vehicles lose mobility, they become like a whale washed ashore — an extremely vulnerable target.
That is why even such seemingly non-obvious details must be treated with great care and responsibility, which is exactly what our fighters do.
By mindlessly welding “protective barbecue grills” onto their tanks, the enemy is effectively shooting itself in the foot.
As evidenced by numerous videos showing the destruction of Russian mechanized columns, this approach leads to a situation where the gun is simply unable to provide full fire support to their already unprotected assault infantry.
Such primitive solutions blatantly restrict visibility. As a result, the crew is unable to detect most threats unless they appear literally right in front of them.
There have been documented cases when, during maneuvers in columns, Russian tanks welded over with scrap metal clustered together, turning into easy prey for drones and artillery — or even crushing their own infantry.
All of this makes Russian equipment extremely ineffective and practically disposable. Instead of fulfilling its intended purpose, it mostly serves as transport that is destroyed long before it reaches its destination.
In the 108th Battalion, all of this was taken into account and the right conclusions were drawn. By properly taking care of their equipment, tank crews thereby ensure their own protection as well.
Only in this way can they be confident that, when the time comes, their armored companion will not fail them and will unleash its righteous fury upon the heads of the occupiers.
All that is needed is to awaken it, point it at the target, and release it from the leash.
Especially since, despite its respectable age and the forest thickets desperately trying to swallow this monster, it remains in excellent condition and well maintained — like a beloved pet in the hands of a good owner.
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- Фото Антона Шевельова / Міністерство оборони України
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- Фото Антона Шевельова / Міністерство оборони України
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- Фото Антона Шевельова / Міністерство оборони України
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- Фото Антона Шевельова / Міністерство оборони України
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- Фото Антона Шевельова / Міністерство оборони України
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- Фото Антона Шевельова / Міністерство оборони України
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- Фото Антона Шевельова / Міністерство оборони України
Thus, the “Da Vinci Wolves” prove that the most important thing for any tank is the care and cohesion of its crew. This is exactly what they demonstrate, turning their work into true art.
