A Ukrainian soldier stands over an abandoned Russian tank near a village on the outskirts of Izyum, Kharkiv region, on September 11. (Juan Barreto/AFP/Getty Images) The Ukrainian counteroffensive in northeastern Ukraine forced Russia to surrender a wide swath of territory it spent months and many lives capturing. Videos and photos posted on social media gave a glimpse of what Russian troops left behind in their hasty retreat. In videos verified by the Washington Post, Ukrainian troops have documented war machines in various states, from tanks to vehicles in need of repair. In some cases, Ukrainian forces have wiped out Russian weapons, leaving smoldering vehicles to be discovered by advancing forces. Russian forces may also have destroyed their own weapons as they retreated. Many of the discoveries centered around Izyum, a strategic city southeast of Kharkiv, located along transportation routes that were crucial to Russian movements. The city also became an important entry point for armored vehicles in need of maintenance, said Justin Bronk, a senior researcher at the Royal United Services Institute. Area held from Russia- supported separatists before Feb. 2022 Annexed by Russia in 2014 Control areas since 9/11 Sources: Institute for the Study of War, AEI’s Critical Threats Project Ukrainian reclaimed area through counterattacks Area held from Russia- supported separatists before Feb. 2022 Annexed by Russia in 2014 Control areas since 9/11 Sources: Institute for the Study of War, AEI’s Critical Threats Project Ukrainian reclaimed area through counterattacks Area held from Russia- supported separatists before Feb. 2022 Annexed by Russia in 2014 Control areas since 9/11 Sources: Institute for the Study of War “Abandonment began on the Russian side very quickly once it became clear that the highways and rail link to the north had been cut,” Bronk said. Video released by the Ukrainian military on September 11 shows abandoned Russian tanks near Izyum after Ukrainian forces recaptured parts of the Kharkiv region. (Video: Telegram) The video shot by approaching Ukrainian forces on the edge of Izyum is remarkable for what it shows — and doesn’t show. The condition of the equipment at the site is unclear, although much of it appears to be free of significant damage. “You and I are getting a tank,” someone is heard saying. “We all get a tank each.” After Russia captured Izyum, video posted online and satellite images from Maxar Technologies showed military vehicles at the same location – suggesting it may have been used as an equipment hub. In the video posted on Sunday, several tanks and armored personnel carriers are scattered in a wooded area. They appear to be assembled in a circular formation, allowing 360 degrees of visibility, said retired Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges, the former commander of US forces in Europe. It’s possible the Russian forces were stopping for fuel or waiting for a mission when they fled, Hodges said. Hodges, who reviewed the video, said it appeared the Russians withdrew hastily, leaving behind tanks that show no outward signs of sabotage to prevent the Ukrainians from using them. The Russians may have fled on foot or in other vehicles in an attempt to keep a lower profile as they fled. “If you get out of the tank to escape, it’s because you think the tank is a target,” Hodges said. The abandoned vehicles are a boon to Ukrainian forces, which have suffered their own losses with a much smaller inventory still dependent on Soviet-era systems. While their crews work quickly to repair their own stockpiles, Ukrainian forces can also absorb newer Russian vehicles into their ranks because their design is familiar and they use ammunition already in service. The equipment left behind in the video corresponds to a tank company, Hodges said, which is typically equipped with about 10 or 11 tanks. Several of them are variants of the T-80, a high-powered tank prone to breakdowns, Bronk said. “Some of it is no doubt reasonably functional,” he said. “You would expect at a major staging point that there would be a lot of equipment that would be there specifically because it had been damaged or needed servicing.” Video released on September 11 showed an abandoned 2S19 MSTA-S artillery on a street in Izyum. (Video: Twitter) Another video, taken along a street in the center of Izyum, shows a maroon 2S19 Msta self-propelled howitzer. The system has no obvious signs of being disabled. Other photos taken at Izyum show more damage to Russian military equipment, indicating that it was hit in battle. An armored vehicle can be seen at a gas station in the city with bullet holes, burn marks and flat tires. Video shared online after Ukraine seized Izyum shows the remains of a TOS-1A multiple rocket launcher on a city street. (Video: TikTok) Ukrainian forces released a video showing the hull of a TOS-1A, a multiple rocket launcher, using its nickname “Solntsepyok”. The soldier also knew the nickname. “Oh sunshine!” he says in the video. The system is capable of firing thermobaric munitions, which first deliver an aerosol of fuel before another charge ignites the cloud, helping to cause a larger explosion used to target fortified positions. It can be an indiscriminate and destructive weapon for people close to its target. Oryx, an open source analyst website, has documented only five TOS-1As in Russian inventories that have been damaged, destroyed or captured. As Ukrainian soldiers took stock of the weapons they left behind in Izyum, officials said they were still pushing harder into Russian-held areas. On Monday, the Ukrainian military said it captured another 20 settlements within 24 hours. Laris Karklis contributed to this report.
