Ukrainian Ministry of Defence unveils picture of Russian T-64BV used by rebel forces in east Ukraine

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Defence & Security News - Ukraine

 
 
Tuesday, July 1, 2014 10:40 AM
 
Ukrainian Ministry of Defence unveils picture of Russian T-64BV used by rebel forces in east Ukraine
According the Official Ukrainian Ministry of Defence (MOD) website, a Russian main battle tank T-64BV captured in east Ukraine would have been used by Russian separatists to fight Ukrainian government forces. An analysis of Colonel Yuri Mykolenko, member of the Command Center of Ukrainian armed forces, has confirmed the use of armament and combat vehicles from the Russian federation origin.
     
According the Official Ukrainian Ministry of Defence (MOD) website, a Russian main battle tank T-64BV captured in east Ukraine would have been used by Russian separatists to fight Ukrainian government forces. An analysis of Colonel Yuri Mykolenko, member of the Command Center of Ukrainian armed forces, has confirmed the use of armament and combat vehicles from the Russian federation origin.
Picture published on the Official Ukrainian Ministry of Defence website of a T-64BV main battle tank captured from rebel forces in east Ukraine.
     
The T-64BV was captured during an attack on the Ukrainian military near Artemivsk, in Donetsk region, said Colonel Yuri Mykolenko. He added, "This tank is not registered as part of the inventory of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

After a first preliminary analysis by the Ukrainian MOD, T-64BV under this serial number was issued in October 1987 at the Kharkov Tank Factory and sent to a military unit, which was at that time stationed in Russia.

This T-64BV main battle tank could be used by the 205th Infantry Brigade, which is stationed in the Russian city Budenovskiy. The serial number of the tank could indicate that he was manufactured in St Petersburg.

The T-64BV was developed based on the T-64B. The T-64BV featured an enhanced anti-radiation protection and add-on explosive reactive armour. The T-64BV is in service with the Ukrainian Armed forces but also in the Russian Army.

The T-64BV is armed with 125mm caliber two-axis-stabilized smoothbore main gun, a coaxial 7.62mm gun and one 12.7mm anti-aircraft machine gun mounted on the commander's cupola.

The T-64BV cannon also fires the radio command guided AT-8 `Songster' ATGW (Anti-Tank Guided Weapon), which is kept in the automatic loader in two separate parts like standard APFSDS or HEAT-FS rounds and loaded using the automatic loader. The AT-8 missile has a maximum range of 4,000 m and the T-64BV can fire a maximum of four AT-8 `Songsters' per minute.