T90M tank crew

It's winter, the sun rises over the fields, illuminating the frozen ground. A column of vehicles, led by a T-90M, moves toward a river crossing.

Inside the tower, a tense, working silence reigns, broken only by the roar of the engine and the clicking of switches.

Sasha Volkova, the commander, puts the pack of cigarettes in her overalls pocket, her attentive gaze sweeping across the snowy expanse through the panoramic sight. Three kilometers to the crossing. Too exposed. Dimon Kovalev, the gunner, never taking his eyes off the Kalina's sight, methodically scans the edge of the forest to the right. His fingers rest on the aiming handles. "Sector clear. Sensors normal," he says curtly, without further ado. From below, in the control compartment, comes the voice of Vanya Sokolov, the driver-mechanic: "The engine is pulling smoothly, but be prepared for skidding on ice. Sasha, how's the route?"

The tank, chugging heavily, continues moving. The upcoming crossing is the perfect place for an ambush.