Watch: Ukrainian ‘Tank Man’ exudes valour, tries to halt Russian convoy

A short video of a Ukrainian man attempting to stop a Russian military tank from entering Ukraine’s capital city Kyiv has gone viral on the internet. Undeterred by the speeding military convoy, the man tries to stop the tank, leaving onlookers astounded. The woman filming the video is heard gasping in shock.

Uploaded on Twitter, the 30-second video has garnered over 830,000 views and several comments.

“This is called bravery and how much he is concerned about the nation,” said one Twitter user. 

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While most internet users lauded the man’s bravery, others criticised the act. Addressing naysayers, one user wrote, “How would you know until you did it? That’s easy to say from the sidelines or from afar or sitting in your living room clicking channels. People putting their lives on the line for their friends is truly honourable.”

The video was first shared by HB, a Kyiv-based news outlet. The convoy, mounted with machine guns, is colloquially known as Humvee (High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles).

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Several internet users compared the unidentified Ukrainian man to the photograph of ‘Tank Man’, an anonymous Chinese man who stood in front of an approaching fleet of military tanks at the Tiananmen Square in Beijing in 1989.

The photograph featured a man holding shopping bags, standing in the path of approaching tanks. The incident occurred a day after the Chinese government enforced martial law due to student protests. Troops were commanded to open fire at the protesters.

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Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces continue to retaliate against Russia’s belligerent attacks. Authorities have encouraged civilians to help defend the country. Kyiv, being the epicentre of the siege, has been the worst hit, with destruction all around.

Nonetheless, from Tank Man to the Ghost of Kyiv, Ukrainians continue to exhibit courage in times of great torment.