THE SUN joined a Ukrainian tank crew in a terrifying shoot and scoot operation.
They gave us exclusive access to a lightning strike in Kherson province.
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Their T-64BV tank roared from a secret hideout, hidden from Russian drones, and charged into no man’s land to fire.
But seconds after this picture was taken, high-explosive howitzer shells slammed into farmland around us.
One shell shredded trees 250 meters away, while a second slammed into a field, throwing dirt hundreds of meters into the air.
Ukraine’s Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov has promised to build a multimillion-strong force to repel Putin’s forces.
Western weapons, including US and British rocket launchers, have already made a “big difference,” he said.
But Ukraine desperately needs more weapons, and fast. “Every day we wait for howitzers, we can lose a hundred soldiers,” said Mr. Reznikov.
In the absence of heavy guns capable of firing up to 40 miles, Ukrainian forces must use tanks as mobile artillery – but their range is only three miles.
The commander of the tank, Sasha, had orders to blitz positions of an elite Russian VDV airborne division.
We followed in a softskin pickup with a group of British and American volunteers.
The 43-ton tank stopped on a track between two fields and we jumped into a ditch to hide.
The turret rocked and slewed.
We heard the clatter of the loading machine.
Then a ball of flame erupted from the 18-foot barrel.
A Ukrainian lookout reported back.
Sasha corrected his aim and fired twice again.
A split second later we heard the call “Arrive”.
A Russian 152mm gun – which could have been up to 18 miles away – was getting closer with each shot.
Russian troops have so much ammunition that they can blow up targets indiscriminately.
Ukraine must ensure that every shot counts.
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I’ve joined the shoot and scoot operation of the Ukrainian tank crew as they desperately fight to repel the Mad Vlad invaders
