Footage of the horrifying moment a Ukrainian Humvee drove over a landmine, with its crew miraculously surviving, was released by authorities.
The video shows Ukrainian fighters riding in the truck, including one soldier nestled within a gap in the vehicle’s roof and manning the machine gun.
As tensions heighten, one of the soldiers begins to shout as gunshots sound.
A huge blast then erupts underneath the Humvee, with at least three soldiers still inside the vehicle.
Fire billows from within the cab, with debris falling onto its roof. Those inside then rush to safety as the vehicle fills with smoke.
Reports say that as a result of the US-made armour, the occupants managed to survive the terrifying encounter.
Yuriy Butusov, a Ukrainian journalist, was in the vehicle with the soldiers when the landmine struck and revealed how the drama unfolded.
Speaking on a video, the writer said: “A heavy assault together with the fighters of the 59th brigade.”
He continued: “The Humvee in which I was riding with the fighters blew up, the tank that supported us blew up, Russian artillery covered us on a minefield.
“But the assault groups of the 59th brigade regrouped and went on the assault again, destroyed the resistance and shot down a Russian FPV drone and took one of the important Russian positions at the crossroads of landings that allows us to move forward.
“This is how the heavy steps of the Ukrainian infantry, which so hard liberated another large field and two landings from the enemy, look like from inside the battle.”
The Ukrainian ministry of defence shared part of the video, before saluting those in the West for sending the equipment.
The ministry tweeted: “Insane footage from inside a Ukrainian HMMWV during combat.
“Thank you to the American people! Your Humvees save the lives of our soldiers.”
The US has backed Ukraine since the war broke out last year, sending over numerous Humvees.
The vehicles are able to carry vital equipment such as military hardware and are often the target of enemy groups.
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