It doesn’t work, indeed, the Ukrainian
Defense Express website writes. "This is evidenced by the interview of Russian tanker Captain Alexei Ukhachev in the publication "Moscow Komsomolets", which was published after his death in Ukraine: "Tankist-hero told about the special operation and died".
After six months of testing such a design of cage top protection, the first photos with such "braziers" appeared in July 2021. Only then did the Russians realize that in case a tank is hit and catches fire, it is unrealistic to believe the commander and gunner can get out, as the cage would partly block or dangerously complicate the passage". Installing "braziers" (top-turret grill-cages) also led to large-scale problems with radio communications in the tank units, as well as the transformation of the tank into a guaranteed mass grave for the commander and gunner. Initially, such shortcomings were not identified but once they became understood, "that's why everyone removed them and threw the braziers away", said Captain Alexei Ukhachev.
The information about the problem caused by the cage armor to the radio communications explains the completely chaotic behavior of Russian tankers on the battlefield: they simply had no radio connection, Defense Express writes.