I wonder what hit them to cause this….

Could it be a javelin to the ammo storage?

Good riddance anyways. Get out of Ukraine if you don’t want to end up like this.

Something hit the ammo storage (Wilshire says a Stugna-P ATGM) which then blew up the tank. It’s one of the big weakness of the Russian T-series tanks, they don’t have blowout panels; so when the ammo storage is hit the entire crew cabin explodes. Tanks like the Abrams separates the crew cabin and the ammo storage and directs any ammo detonations out the back of the tank via said blowout panels. While the tank is still totaled, the crew has a good chance of surviving.

Yes, they have since retired, moved to Brooklyn, came out as gay, and opened a Bodega. A fairy tale ending.