Fragments of a Destroyed Russian Armored Column Near Irpin

Fragments of a Destroyed Russian Armored Column Near Irpin — November 2024

In early November 2024, I visited the outskirts of Irpin — an area that not long ago witnessed heavy fighting and the rapid Ukrainian counteroffensive. Even though some time has passed, the traces of the Russian invasion are still visible everywhere. Among the forests, right next to ordinary roads, lie the remains of destroyed Russian armored vehicles.

All the photos I’m sharing here were taken during that visit.

A Tank That Came to a Final Stop

The first photo shows the wreck of a Russian tank, likely a T-72 or one of its variants. The vehicle is completely burned out, and its turret has been torn open and heavily damaged by an ammunition explosion — a classic “cook-off” effect often seen when the ammo compartment is hit.

The blue paint on the armor is an identification marking commonly added after the fighting, used to visually distinguish wrecks belonging to the invading army. The autumn forest surrounding the scene creates a striking contrast between nature and the destruction of war.

Rust, Burned Metal, and a Slogan That Became a Symbol

The next wreck is a burned-out armored personnel carrier with the phrase “Слава Україні” (“Glory to Ukraine”) spray-painted on its side. This simple, spontaneous gesture — left by soldiers or locals — transforms a destroyed enemy vehicle into a symbol of resistance and, in a way, a trophy of the information war.

Rust has already consumed most of the vehicle’s surface — time is doing its work, though it cannot erase what happened here.

Silence After the Battle

In the third photo, you can see an completely burned-out hull of another armored vehicle. Remnants of its tracks, charred internal components, and graffiti added later by visitors — all of this forms a stark landscape of a battlefield frozen in time.

Around it, the forest seems to be slowly reclaiming the area, yet the marks of fire and destruction are still clearly visible.

Reflection

Walking among these wrecks makes you realize the scale of what took place during the early stages of the Russian offensive toward Kyiv. Irpin, Bucha, Hostomel — these places have become symbols of resistance, but also of tragedy.

Today, these wrecks remain on the sidelines, slowly being overtaken by grass, yet they stand as reminders that all of this happened — and not so long ago.

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