Image Courtesy: Reuters
A Ukrainian armored vehicle crew claims it successfully used an Italian-made B1 Centauro tank destroyer to hit a building more than 11 kilometers away, a distance that would rank among the longest reported tank gun strikes of the war.
The strike was reportedly carried out from a concealed firing position, with the crew using the vehicle more like artillery than a traditional frontline tank. The gunner, identified by the call sign “Khilya,” told Ukrainian outlet Army TV the round directly hit a house where Russian troops were positioned at a distance of 11,100 meters, according to Business Insider.
The operation highlights how battlefield tactics in Ukraine continue to evolve under the constant threat of drones. Rather than engaging in direct tank-on-tank combat, crews are increasingly firing from hidden positions far behind the front line to avoid detection by FPV drones and loitering munitions.
The B1 Centauro is an Italian 8×8 wheeled tank destroyer armed with a NATO-standard 105 mm cannon. While it carries lighter armor than a conventional main battle tank, its mobility and long-range firepower have made it increasingly useful in Ukraine’s drone-heavy combat environment.
Ukraine has seen similar long-range tank gun claims before. In 2022, a Ukrainian T-64BV crew reported destroying a Russian tank from roughly 10.6 kilometers away. These shots remain rare, but they demonstrate how armored warfare is adapting as drones make traditional assaults significantly riskier.
The commander of the B1 Centauro crew, using the call sign “Director,” said direct armored engagements have become increasingly impractical due to the density of aerial threats near the front lines. Instead, firing indirectly from covered positions allows crews to remain concealed while still delivering accurate strikes.
The vehicles themselves are also being modified for survival. Footage of the Ukrainian-operated B1 Centauros shows extensive anti-drone protection, including metal cages and netting designed to reduce the effectiveness of explosive drone attacks targeting vulnerable sections of the vehicle.
Originally produced in the 1990s, the B1 Centauro was first reported to have arrived in Ukraine in 2023 and later appeared publicly in service with Ukraine’s 78th Separate Air Assault Brigade. Although its cannon lacks the steep firing angles of dedicated artillery systems, Ukrainian crews appear to be pushing the platform well beyond its intended battlefield role.
