I’m a Ukrainian tank hunter – I’ve blown up 40 Russian vehicles with my Javelin & won’t stop, I’ve got a taste for blood

9 months ago 4

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A UKRAINIAN tank hunter who has already blown up more than 40 Russian vehicles says he’ll never stop as he’s “got a taste for blood”.

Javelin operator “Gagauz”, commander of the anti-tank guided missile team of the 79th Brigade, is “in love” with the US-made weapon.

Ukrainian tank hunter Gagauz says he ‘got a taste for blood’ the first time he blew up a Russian vehicle with a Javelin missile[/caption]

He has blown up 40 Russian vehicles, but ‘rolled back’ about 60[/caption]

Gagauz says he won’t stop shooting at the enemy until he loses morale or his health[/caption]

The portable Javelin missile has been key in destroying Russian tanks, cementing itself as a firm favourite among Ukraine soldiers in their fight against Russian forces.

Mere weeks after Russian president Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine in February 2022, the anti-tank weapon was so popular it was dubbed “Saint Javelin”, as a meme featuring it and Mary Magdalene went viral.

Gagauz, who first used the Javelin launcher in combat in the summer of 2022, said of the experience: “I was told to prepare, saw the target, made a launch.

“I hit it, then got a taste for blood and the desire to burn more of them. I love it.

“I do my job effectively so I started feeling differently about it. That is, I started loving it.”

The young man, whose real identity is not known, said he has used the Javelin to hit MT-LB armoured fighting vehicles, tanks, BTR armoured personnel carriers, and an engineering vehicle.

In total, he’s hit more than 40 Russian vehicles.

Gagauz added: “But if we count all, which were struck but rolled back, then up to 60.

“The system works fine still, thank god. Not letting me down.

“There was a case when a tank’s turret went up 10 metres after the hit. It was epic.”

His latest mission involved a column of eight vehicles, among which two tanks and one MT-LB were hit while the rest “rolled back”.

Gagauz continued: “I’ll say that the enemy has bigger numbers of vehicles and personnel than us. Far more than us.

“But in terms of their training, as soon as they get f****d, they instantly forget about combat tactics.

“I’ll keep f*****g them until I can no more, until morale or health says goodbye.”

Javelin launchers are estimated to cost $178,000 (£135,600), while each replacement missile costs $78,000 (£59,200).

I’ll keep f*****g them until I can no more

Gagauzcommander of the ATGM team of the 79th Brigade

The missile has two explosive charges and is capable of tearing through some of the toughest tanks, including Russia‘s T-90 main battle tank.

It is best operated by two soldiers but can be used by a lone fighter too – and is simple to understand, which is helpful in situations where people need to learn to use them quickly.

The Javelin works by locking onto a target’s thermal picture using heat sensors.

Fighters are able to look through a command launch unit and choose from various targets and attack types, with a disposable launch tube found on the back.

It can travel up to 2.5 miles, giving soldiers a decent distance to strike.

In March 2022, not long after Putin launched his war, Ukrainian soldiers thanked Britain for sending anti-tank weapons to them.

One trooper called the deadly equipment a “beautiful thing” while another urged for more “toys like these” to be sent.

The UK’s defence secretary at the time, Ben Wallace, said “small consignments” of Javelin anti-tank missiles were being supplied to Ukraine to assist in its fight against Russia.