In a dramatic and shocking moment captured on drone footage, a Russian T-62M tank was seen driving straight into a clearly marked anti-tank minefield—with devastating consequences.
The incident reportedly occurred during ongoing operations in Eastern Ukraine, where dated Soviet-era armor like the T-62M has been increasingly deployed due to heavy front-line losses. The footage, released by Ukrainian forces, shows the tank moving slowly along a rural dirt road, flanked by fields—ignoring or missing visible indicators of buried mines, including disturbed soil patterns and warning signs.
As the tank moves forward, it makes direct contact with an anti-tank mine, triggering a massive explosion beneath its treads. The detonation throws up a cloud of dirt and flame, lifting the front of the tank and severely damaging its undercarriage. The blast disables the vehicle instantly, immobilizing it and likely wounding or killing the crew inside.
Military analysts were quick to point out the avoidable nature of the incident. The minefield had been deliberately laid in open view, likely to funnel advancing armor into pre-targeted kill zones. Some suggest the crew may have been under pressure or poorly trained—a growing issue as Russia relies more heavily on older conscripts and reserve forces.
The T-62M, a Cold War-era tank originally introduced in the 1960s, has outdated armor protection and mine resistance compared to modern standards. While upgraded with reactive armor panels, the tank’s basic design is vulnerable to modern battlefield threats—especially mines and top-down drone strikes.
This incident serves as yet another brutal reminder: in modern warfare, mines don’t just wait to be stepped on—they shape the entire battlefield, and one moment of misjudgment can mean the end of an entire crew.