How Ukraine’s 1st Tank Brigade Fought A Russian Force Ten Times Its Size—And Won

The 1st tank brigade, arguably Ukraine's best tank formation, didn't just survive the brutal bombardment that preceded Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The brigade had to fight back hard.

When analysts Mykhaylo Zabrodskyi, Jack Watling, and Oleksandr Danylyuk heard about the 1st tank brigade's defense of the city of Chernihiv, they were amazed.

The 1st tank brigade was assumed to be an easy target on the first day of the war. Most of the Ukrainian army's brigades were hit in the early morning hours of February 24.

The 1st tank brigade had left. Most of the buildings that were destroyed were empty.

Some of the best tanks in the Ukrainian inventory are waiting in the fields and forests around Chernihiv.

The Russian 41st Combined Arms Army arrived at Chernihiv from its staging areas in the south of the country. On paper, the 1st tank brigade was outmatched by the 41st CAA.

Key advantages were held by the 1st tank brigade.

The analysts wrote that modernized T-64s have digital radios, new internal communication and navigation systems, and other necessary options. The Ukrainian-made TAKO-621 tank missile system can be used to engage armored vehicles, fortifications, helicopters and other targets at a distance of up to 5,000 yards.

The autoloader in the three-person T-64 made the most difference in the early fights. The Russian ability to bring their mass to bear against a specific tactical situation was limited as a result of the first days of fighting.

Ukrainian tank crews were able to achieve significant damage against surprised Russian units because of better crew training and quicker autoloaders.

Russian commanders decided to ignore the 41st CAA after the 1st tank brigade bled them. The Russians had a main prize. The 1st tank brigade was encircled by the Russian battalions.

Many of the brigade's tanks were still in its possession. It was bad for infantry. Tanks without infantry support are vulnerable to the enemy's own infantry and their anti-tank missiles.

The territorial brigade was in the area. The brigade adopted an all-around defense of the city as the territorials screened the 1st tank brigade's T-64s.

The brigade and its support territories were held out for six weeks. The Russian battalions didn't completely cut off the city. Despite having an overwhelming force presence, the Russians failed to sever a small supply road along the left bank of the Dnipro river. It speaks to the lack of active patrolling by Russian units.

The Russian army tried to capture the city of Kyiv but failed. The Russian battalions were attacked by the two Ukrainian army brigades, which were in and around the capital city.

The Kremlin ordered it's forces to retreat. The 1st tank brigade attacked at that time. The brigade liberated the highway on March 31.

It was over. The Ukrainians had triumphed.

The 1st tank brigade was damaged in its defense of Chernihiv. The brigade after this spring's battles spent several months resting, refitting and recruiting new soldiers.

In the east, the brigade is in action. It fought a great defensive campaign last year. The attack is happening today.