Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence Directorate (GUR) has released rare video footage showing a dramatic battlefield recovery of a disabled M1224 MaxxPro armored vehicle during an operation near Kupiansk.
According to GUR, the vehicle was hit by Russian fire while transporting personnel from the “Timur” special operations unit.
Despite the strike, the MaxxPro’s armored capsule shielded the troops, allowing them to dismount and continue their mission on foot. The vehicle remained stranded in a hostile zone under threat of further attacks.
Rather than abandon the vehicle, a logistics specialist from the unit conducted a quick on-site assessment. Determining the engine was still functional, the operator re-entered the damaged MaxxPro and drove it out of the kill zone — despite one missing wheel and the vehicle dragging metal across the asphalt.
The escape, captured by aerial reconnaissance drones, showed the armored truck trailing sparks as it was evacuated to safety.
“This footage is another reminder that war is a test of endurance, improvisation, and logistics,” the GUR said in a release.
The M1224 MaxxPro, manufactured by Navistar Defense and provided to Ukraine by the United States, has been repeatedly praised by Ukrainian personnel for its survivability. The vehicle is designed to withstand IED blasts, artillery shelling, and FPV drone attacks. Its V-shaped hull and armored crew capsule have reportedly saved lives in numerous combat scenarios.
Ukrainian service members have previously noted the MaxxPro’s only major drawback is its size, which can limit mobility in tight terrain and increase visibility to enemy observers. However, as this latest video illustrates, driver skill and determination can often offset those disadvantages.