On the front, the Ukrainians have few opportunities to laugh. So when an officer manages to create humor at the expense of the Russians, it is not surprising that the video is a great success. “Kochevnik”, his nom de guerre, had fun calling the Russian technical service after the capture of a defective T-72B3 tank. “The tank was manufactured in 2021 but it cannot be used in combat, it constantly breaks down. Can you tell those who designed it that they are idiots? », asks the Ukrainian officer with a smile.
“Kochevnik” first called Alexander Anatolevich, an employee of the Russian arms company Uralvagonzavod – which actually manufactures the T-72B3 tanks. Without suspecting that his interlocutor was Ukrainian – the conversation taking place in Russian, the latter promised to report his complaints to the manufacturer.
“These tanks are shit”
And the latter were numerous: “Kochevnik” reported oil leaks, defective compressors but also the malfunction of the turret which forced the Ukrainian soldiers to manipulate it by hand. The officer does not mince his words, even saying “these tanks are shit”, without his interlocutor losing his calm.
The Ukrainian officer then made a phone call to an executive of the Russian arms company, Andreï Abakumov, who asked him “who was generous enough to share with him [so]n telephone number”. The Russian executive, however, agrees to help him and asks him to send in detail all the problems encountered on the tank, via WhatsApp. At the end of the video, “Kochevnik”, hilarious, calls the two men back to reveal his identity. “Next time we capture a trophy tank, try to design them better so we can make them work, deal? “, he asks before concluding: “Glory to Ukraine! »