Espreso. Global

"As soon as I fired a shot, fear disappeared": soldier with the 128th Brigade describes hitting a Russian tank

3 August, 2022 Wednesday
21:05

Valeria, an anti-tank guided missile system operator with the 128th Detached Zakarpattian Mountain Assault Brigade, shares stories from her time at the front - describing how she destroyed a Russian tank and got injured

Valeria's story was published on the Facebook page of the Zakarpattian Legion, Espreso.West reports. 

She said that during the destruction of the occupying tank, an unrealistic feeling appeared, as if it was all a computer game.

"We stood in front of the village and waited for enemy equipment. The number was unknown, but we knew that it was moving directly towards us. We set up several fire points - one in the landing, the other behind, closer to the checkpoint with concrete slabs. I waited in the landing,  and then the tanks started coming at us. They hit from about four kilometers away; we didn't even see them because of the uneven terrain. I realized that I had to leave and ran to the second point near the checkpoint. The weather was terrible - it rained, pieces of clay stuck to the soles. At the second point, the Javelin was included, and I first started to configure it. But then I thought - no, it's better from Corsair. I connected the rocket, looked through the optics and saw how three Russian flags attached to the antennas of the armored vehicle began to slowly rise on the road", Valeria said. 

In the next second, the first tank moved 300 meters away from her. The military immediately launched and hit the T-72 directly. 

"The T-72 slides to the side, falls into the ditch, and I scream with all my might: "I hit! Hit!!!" A combat reconnaissance patrol vehicle was moving immediately behind the tank. I took a new rocket from my partner, pointed the Corsair at the target and launched it. But it did not fire - the battery sat down. The car calmly landed and hid among the trees. And I felt so sorry - it was my first small defeat... The guys brought another battery and started to leave", she said. 

Half an hour later, a soldier was wounded in the leg by a shrapnel from a projectile. She was saved by a friend who pulled her away and put a tourniquet on her leg. Valeria was treated in several hospitals and has now returned to the unit as an operator of the Skif. For the destroyed enemy equipment, she was awarded the Order For Courage of the III degree. In addition, the woman was awarded the state medal, Defender of the Motherland.

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