According to Ukrainian and Russian media reports, on the evening of July 13, the Ukrainian armed forces attempted to bypass the city of Luhansk and break through to the troops encircled at the Luhansk airport. The 1st separate tank brigade was thrown into battle, armed with several types of armored vehicles. Among other vehicles, this unit operates the main T-64BM Bulat tanks, which are the latest modification of the family. The battle on July 13 was not only one of the first cases of the combat use of Bulatov, but also opened an account of their losses. According to some reports, three Ukrainian tanks were destroyed that day, one of which was the T-64BM. In addition, Ukrainian troops lost several armored personnel carriers and vehicles.
Shortly after the battles on July 13, the first photographs of their results were published. One of them showed a burnt-out tank with a number of characteristic features that make it possible to identify it as a T-64BM "Bulat". This car had not only to take part in the hostilities, but also to become the first destroyed tank of its model. A Ukrainian tank was hit and burned down near the town of Lutugino on the territory of the unrecognized Luhansk People's Republic.
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The reaction of some media outlets to the destruction of the Ukrainian tank is interesting. So, on July 14, the image of the burned-out car appeared in the photo selection of the Internet edition "Segodnya.ua". In preparing this material, the Ukrainian tank "turned" into a combat vehicle of the Luhansk militia, destroyed by the Ukrainian Air Force.
At least two photographs of the first destroyed Bulat tank are known. They clearly show the damage to the external elements of the combat vehicle, which allow you to build your own assumptions. At the same time, one cannot speak about anything with certainty, since there are still no accurate and confirmed data on the course of the battle and the method of destroying the vehicle.
When examining the available photographs of the burnt-out T-64BM, the first to catch the eye are numerous damage to the external units of the tank, as well as numerous traces of combustion. Side skirts, additional turret protection and other elements of the vehicle are noticeably deformed, smoke grenade launchers are dented or torn from their places. In addition, the body is covered in soot. Burning traces are best seen on a log attached to the rear of the machine. Probably, during the battle, the car lost its speed, after which it was shot by the enemy. A torn left caterpillar speaks in favor of this version.
Internal damage to the tank is unknown, but some things may indicate serious damage to some units. The photo shows that the tank almost sank to the ground with its bottom, the torsion bar suspension sagged so much. Despite all the damage to the tank, its crew could survive or, at least, leave the wrecked car. The hatches of the crew were opened and, apparently, after that they were covered with soot.
The method of destroying the tank remained unknown. Probably, a shell or missile hit the port side and therefore the hole is missing from the published photographs. The hit could be followed by a fire, as a result of which the outer surface of the car received characteristic damage, and the torsion bars could not cope with thermal loads and "sat down". Nevertheless, the ignition did not lead to detonation of the ammunition load, and this fact may refute the version about the penetration of the left side of the fighting compartment.
As an alternative version, taking into account the severe burning and other damage of the destroyed tank, you can consider the use of rocket artillery. Finally, the Ukrainian media could not be mistaken, and the tank was indeed destroyed by a missile and bomb attack from the air. However, in this case, corresponding not entirely pleasant questions arise for the pilots of the Ukrainian Air Force.
Some questions can be caused by the towing cable attached to one of the stern hooks of the burnt-out car. This nuance can serve as the basis for another version: the tank was hit and lost the ability to continue the battle. After that, they tried to evacuate him, but for some reason they left him. Perhaps the reason for this was the beginning of the shelling that destroyed the tank.
One way or another, the incident with the T-64BM "Bulat" tank near Lugansk confirms the obvious fact: any armored vehicle can be damaged or destroyed. However, some features of the T-64BM project, as well as the "PR campaign" that once unfolded around it, give the situation an ambiguous look. The Bulat project was created with the aim of bringing the characteristics of serial tanks of the T-64 family to the level of the T-84U tank. For this, in the course of repair and modernization, equipment received new engines, a new fire control system and sighting devices, dynamic protection "Knife" as well as a set of other equipment.
In numerous and not always objective comparisons with other tanks, the T-64BM regularly received good marks. The protection systems received special praise, in particular the dynamic protection "Knife". Serial conversion of existing tanks in accordance with the new project started in 2004. Earlier, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine planned to modernize up to 400 T-64 tanks, but limited financial capabilities forced the order to be seriously reduced. In 2004, a contract was signed to upgrade 85 serial T-64 tanks. The first batch of 56 Bulats was handed over to the troops in 2008. By 2012, the number of these tanks reached 76.
From the beginning of July, reports began to appear about the use of T-64BM tanks in battles with Luhansk and Donetsk "terrorists". Already on July 13, the first of the vehicles of this type was destroyed. The active participation in the battles of the 1st separate tank brigade, armed with "Bulats", may indicate that the loss of this type of equipment will continue. Further operation of this type of equipment in a real conflict will make it possible to understand its real potential and effectiveness. Nevertheless, it is already clear that the effectiveness of the use of tanks of all models will be directly related to the level of training of crews and command, and it leaves much to be desired.
