Abandoned Soviet KV-2 Tanks on the Streets of Zholkva — June 1941

July 23, 2025 - Reading time: 7 minutes

Two abandoned KV-2 tanks from the 8th Tank Division of the Red Army on the streets of Zholkva, Western Ukraine, June 1941, during the Soviet retreat in the face of Nazi invasion.

This powerful image captures two abandoned Soviet KV-2 heavy tanks from the 8th Tank Division of the Red Army on the streets of Zholkva (also known as Niemirov) in Western Ukraine during the summer of 1941. The KV-2, known for its massive size and firepower, was one of the most formidable Soviet tanks at the start of the war. However, the tanks in this photograph were left behind during the Soviet retreat in June 1941, possibly due to mechanical failures or a lack of fuel, which were common issues during the chaotic retreat of the Red Army in the face of the Nazi invasion.

In the image, the tanks' turrets are turned to the travel position, and the machine guns have been removed, indicating they were inoperable. The KV-2 was intended for fortification destruction and anti-tank warfare, but its heavy weight and slow speed made it vulnerable to the speed of the German advance, forcing the crew to abandon the vehicles.

The KV-2's abandonment symbolizes the early challenges faced by the Soviet forces in the Great Patriotic War, and this image offers a glimpse into the devastating German invasion in 1941, marking a key moment in the Eastern Front campaign.

Technical photo data:
📝 Source of information: Unknown
📍 Location: Zholkva, Lviv Oblast, Western Ukraine, USSR
📅 Date of photo: June-July 1941
📷 Photographer: Unknown

• Soviet KV-2 tanks

• 8th Tank Division

• Red Army tanks

• Abandoned tanks WWII

• Nazi invasion USSR

• Soviet retreat

• German advance 1941

• Tank mechanical failure

• Eastern Front tanks

• WWII tank destruction

• Soviet armor 1941