The instant a Russian tank was blown to smithereens in Mariupol, a crewman fled from the 40-ton vehicle and sprinted for his life, according to dramatic drone video published by the Ukrainian military.
The “Z”-emblazoned tank is seen rolling along a desolate street in the besieged city before coming under fire from the Azov Battalion’s artillery.
As smoke billows from the smoldering wreckage of the damaged vehicle, which was struck many times, one crew member can be seen clambering out of the turret and fleeing.
The soldier appears to be injured and ends up writhing on the ground nearby, next to a dead buddy.
The number of Russian crewmen killed in the strike was not immediately known.
Ukrainian military have reportedly killed or arrested 13,000 Russian soldiers, as well as destroyed roughly 200 planes, 400 tanks, and 2,000 other vehicles, according to Kyiv.
Russian soldiers, according to the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, dropped a large bomb on a theater in Mariupol, where hundreds of civilians were sheltering.
A crew member attempting to escape the tank.
On Thursday, the Russian Foreign Ministry denied its forces were behind the attack, claiming the allegations were an attempt to frame Moscow.