One of the little known episodes of fights near Stepanovka.

Journal tyzhden.ua publishes a story about the heroic Lieutenant Abramovich, who was killed in battle with Russian invaders.

Not far from the Russian border near the village of Nikiforovo in the Donetsk region are two of the shattered tank that collided head on: the Ukrainian T-64 and the Russian T-72. As they say, the locals still wear flowers, although this event happened in mid-August of last year. The history of our tank killed in this battle, is not yet fully understood. But after two of them finally laid to rest in the homeland to tell about it.

Ukrainian T-64 he commanded the 24-year-old resident of Zhytomyr Artyom Abramovich, cheerful, and friendly young man. Even during his studies at the Academy of ground forces named after Hetman Petro Sahaidachny he was one of the first on the course. After her came in the 30th separate mechanized brigade, where he was appointed commander of a tank platoon.

In the spring of 2014 part of the brigade was stationed in the South of Ukraine, protecting it from possible invasion and sabotage groups from the Crimea. Some time tank platoon Artem was at Berdyansk. It was here on 14 July, the guy I gave the comment of "Television news service", which was aired the next day and there on the Internet: "the challenge to cover this road. We will always be ready to meet them, to fight, to repel the attack, not to let the enemy to the city".

July 27, parts of the brigade have deployed in the area Saur-graves release of the boilers of the troops, who got there after attempting to take control of the Russian-Ukrainian border and shooting "Grad" and artillery from the territory of the Russian Federation. First, the operation has developed more or less successfully: our troops broke the resistance of the separatists near the village of Stepanovka, at the foot of the Saur-graves and quickly moved on to the East. However, they came in the same narrow "mouth" between the cities of Torez - Snizhne - Krasnyi Luch, which was captured by the terrorists, and on Russian territory, of which only that with such big problems started to get "arrogancy". On 5 August the division brigade consisting of three infantry fighting vehicles and one tank took the height of Nikiforovo. Supervised local post senior Lieutenant Artyom Abramovich. A few kilometers from there there were two checkpoints, there were also commanders lieutenants and senior lieutenants, the young men 22-24 years.

Artem Abramovich. Photo: zhitomir.info

All the headquarters with the generals, the colonels and the colonels remained somewhere behind, and a strike force of a brigade headed by one fighting major has gone ahead to the city of Minusinsk, and further the Laterally-Platovo. The posts of lieutenants "dangle" between the headquarters and the main forces.

First lieutenants were told that their mission is only to cover the retreat of our troops, demoralized and shot in the boilers. Like after these parts must be removed and they are to cover the retreat. Then simply ordered to stay in place without any specific job.

In General, communication with the staff was extremely bad. Even food had to be purchased somewhere "on the side" because the rations quickly ended. First food and water left of the column that went from the boiler, then the products were brought by the commander of a post nearby, who acted in the village - the guys bought all at their own expense. Soon the situation deteriorated: around snooping and sabotage-reconnaissance groups of the enemy, and I had to get what's left. So, the boys found the water only ... on a nearby rural cemetery. Pour from the cans that were standing there, and boiled.

From the territory of Russian hill about Nikiforovo fired long-range artillery, and from the village was beaten mortars: where the separatist forces. To open fire in response, the guys had no opportunity: for their observations, the mortars were at the women's prison.

On August 12 it all started. At the roadblock near hill departed neighbors – one tank and two infantry fighting vehicles, which guarded the crossing of the river Mius. The guys were a little scared: heard and saw large enemy forces, particularly tanks.

Tried to contact by radio with headquarters, but no specific orders are not received (on a mobile device in the area was already disabled). Held a "meeting of the lieutenants" and decided to retreat to the Miusinsk, to the main force of the brigade. Quickly withdrew from the heights and arrived on the scene. I met the local commander, his friend, senior Lieutenant, who strictly ordered back to protect the rear. What to do? Go back to your height Nikiforov. Only took the old position, as seen from the South earned "the Grad" ... it Was scary, but the rocket flew past the guys literally in one hundred meters is not included. Then the Russian side responded again long-range artillery, but was still clearly heard the roar of tanks that were advancing again from the South. The Lieutenant asked over the radio headquarters artillery support, but I heard unexpected answer: "no Shells".

Soon saw four tanks that were rushing to the checkpoint at breakneck speed. One of them was a T-64 with white stripes, as in the Ukrainian army (obviously captured). That is why our first soldiers did not open fire. Tanks began to hit the technique on a post, only then the guys realized that they face the enemy. The other three machines, when examined, turned out to be light green T-72, while the Ukrainian military equipment dark color. Such tanks we have in service no. Obviously, they were Russian.

Positions of the Ukrainian troops began to fire from two other directions: as it appeared later, out came the troops of the enemy. Almost immediately had hit two vehicles. Ukrainian tanks fired a volley, but then one jammed gun - he withdrew from the fight.

Continued the fight only Artem tank and a few Marines. One of them managed to knock out a Russian T-72 that was coming on the left of the road. The other guys were shell-shocked, injured, or nervous shock. Given the situation, Lieutenant Abramovich ordered the soldiers to retreat, while he and the crew decided to cover the retreat.

Wounded and shell-shocked quickly sank to surviving combat vehicles and headed for the Miusinsk. Tank Abramovich had to move with them. He turned to go on the road, and then it at breakneck speed jumped one of the Russian T-72. How this happened, none of the fighters doesn't remember exactly. Tanks collided almost head-on.

There is a version that both crews some minutes remained alive and tried to escape. Abramovich even managed to pull out through the bottom hatch of the driver, an older, slightly stocky soldier, and climbed back on his gunner. But here there was an explosion: detonated ammunition, the tower bounced on the ground, and everything inside the tank was going up in flames.

More chances to survive was the Russian tankers: their car did not explode, although the soldiers can be severely hurt due to the strong collision. But the T-72 also got incurable damage. Later it blew up someone from the enemy side.

For a long time, cherished the hope that Artem Abramovich in captivity. At the end of August in the Internet appeared the video with prisoners Ukrainian soldiers, one of whom resembled the Lieutenant outside. The boyfriend's mother went to look for it on the territory of the self-proclaimed "DNR", where he stayed for three months. Even met with Zakharchenko, communicated with local residents, searched almost every inch of the field, where burned a tank son, but all in vain.

The Village Of Nikiforovo. Place the tank battle, which killed senior Lieutenant Artyom Abramovich and his fellow

October 3, 2014 on the site of a former tank combat worked pathfinders Union "folk memory", were found the remains of the victims. Six weeks later, the group went to the district took the remains of the bodies of several fighters. DNA tests showed that among the victims were senior Lieutenant Artyom Abramovich and gunner Peter Burbuja. Managed to find two dead and one infantry fighting vehicle, which was shot down by enemy fighters in the first moment of the battle. Now is still unknown the fate of the driver.

The group covered the tank Abramovich, successfully got to the Miusinsk. Most of the guys - participants of the battle Nikiforov survived and a few months ago returned home. Only Artem brought after all. He was buried in Zhytomyr on 23 may 2015.

P. S. Slovak artist has depicted the Heroic ramming attacks in the Donbas. The author called the painting "Sunflowers"

The film is based on real events.

The artist of Slovakian Rado Javor painted scene of tank combat in the Donbas. About it reports the edition informator.lg.ua.

To create a picture of the author was inspired by a real scene of a tank ramming the young Ukrainian tank commander Artyom Abramovich.

"These are real events in Eastern Ukraine last summer. The armed forces are doing their best to stop the offensive of the Russian mercenaries. The young commander of the Ukrainian tank deliberately crashed into the Russian T-72, to save the retreating soldiers. Both tanks were destroyed, but the young tank driver was killed. He was later awarded the order of Hero of Ukraine. I tried to accurately convey the time and place of a feat at this picture," explained Javor.

МБФ "СЛАВА УКРАЇНІ" / ICF "GLORY TO UKRAINE" / FIB "GLOIRE À L'UKRAINE"