Military

Run Over by a Tank, Civilian Pulled Out of Crushed Car Alive in Kyiv

February 25, 2022Matt Fratus
Tank crushes car Kyiv

An elderly man miraculously survived being run over by a tank in Kyiv. The viral video posted Friday, Feb. 25, 2022, shows rescuers attempting to get the man out of his mangled vehicle. Photo courtesy of Twitter.

A tanklike armored vehicle rolled over the top of a fleeing civilian vehicle in Ukraine’s capital city of Kyiv, trapping the elderly driver inside.


Incredibly, the man survived — though his car did not — and was pulled from the wreckage by bystanders.


The incident, caught on tape from several directions on a major thoroughfare of Kyiv, occurred as an ambush targeting a military transport truck took place directly across the street.


The armored vehicle appears to be a Strela-10 or SA-13 “Gopher,” a weapon known to generations of US pilots as a fearsome anti-aircraft missile system. The system is believed to have shot down two A-10s during Desert Storm, killing one pilot.




Nearby residents in the Obolon district of Kyiv captured the stunning footage from multiple vantage points and released it on various social media channels on the morning of Friday, Feb. 25. The videographers gasp in disbelief as the tank appears to swerve into the car before reversing and leaving the area.


The incident took place following an ambush that targeted a military transport truck. The Daily Mail reports two Russian servicemen dressed in military fatigues are shown in a video being shot and killed in a skirmish with Ukrainian forces. 


When the soldiers left the area, several men rushed to the crumpled car. A video released to Twitter by Ukrainian journalist Alexander Khrebet shows a scene where men use their bare hands to pull and tug on the car to free the disoriented man.


Other citizens are seen using hammers and crowbars to pry the wrecked car’s metal away.




“I saw an armored vehicle and there was automatic fire,” said Kyiv resident Viktor Berbash, 58, according to the New York Post. “And here this car, with probably an anti-aircraft gun on it, was already here.”


Both the Ukrainian and Russian armies have large fleets of SA-13s, though the hulking vehicles are not designed to invade or attack ground targets on their own and would be little use roving the streets of a hostile city. Instead, anti-aircraft weapons usually move with or behind tanks, infantry, and other direct ground combat elements, providing cover from air attacks as the forces advance toward a city.


Berbash claimed the actions were deliberate.


“It was not by chance, it was for fun, there was no need for this,” Berbash said. “And it just ran into this car. Stopped, reversed over it again and drove on.”


“The protection of the civilian population must be a priority,” the UN Human Rights Twitter page quoted UN Human Rights Chief Michelle Bachelet as saying. “The use of explosive weapons in populated areas should, at all costs, be avoided.”


Read Next: Kyiv Under Siege: Russians Enter City After Second Night of Missile Strikes



Matt Fratus
Matt Fratus

Matt Fratus is a history staff writer for Coffee or Die. He prides himself on uncovering the most fascinating tales of history by sharing them through any means of engaging storytelling. He writes for his micro-blog @LateNightHistory on Instagram, where he shares the story behind the image. He is also the host of the Late Night History podcast. When not writing about history, Matt enjoys volunteering for One More Wave and rooting for Boston sports teams.

More from Coffee or Die Magazine
Coffee Or Die Photo
Get Your Viking On: The Exclusive 30 Sec Out BRCC Shirt Club Design

Thirty Seconds Out has partnered with BRCC for an exclusive shirt design invoking the God of Winter.

Grizzly Forge BRCC shirt
Limited Edition: Grizzly Forge Blades on an Awesome BRCC Shirt

Lucas O'Hara of Grizzly Forge has teamed up with BRCC for a badass, exclusive Shirt Club T-shirt design featuring his most popular knife and tiomahawk.

BRCC Limited Edition Josh Raulerson Blackbeard Skull Shirt
From Naval Service to Creative Canvas: BRCC Veteran Artist Josh Raulerson

Coffee or Die sits down with one of the graphic designers behind Black Rifle Coffee's signature look and vibe.

Medal of Honor is held up.
Biden Will Award Medal of Honor to Army Helicopter Pilot Who Rescued Soldiers in Vietnam Firefight

Biden will award the Medal of Honor to a Vietnam War Army helicopter pilot who risked his life to save a reconnaissance team from almost certain death.

dear jack mandaville
Dear Jack: Which Historic Battle Would You Want To Witness?

Ever wonder how much Jack Mandaville would f*ck sh*t up if he went back in time? The American Revolution didn't even see him coming.

west point time capsule
West Point Time Capsule Yields Centuries-Old Coins

A nearly 200-year-old West Point time capsule that at first appeared to yield little more than dust contains hidden treasure, the US Military Academy said.

Ouija Board aircraft carrier
Low-Tech ‘Ouija Boards’ Have Helped Aircraft Carriers Operate for Decades

Since the 1920s, a low-tech tabletop replica of an aircraft carrier’s flight deck has been an essential tool in coordinating air operations.

  • About Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Careers
Contact Us
Contact Us
© 2024 Coffee or Die Magazine. All Rights Reserved