So the driver poured on the gas and the tracked vehicle leaped down the slick, wet road in the city's centre.
Social media posts of video and pictures show what happened next.
Hitting the brakes had little effect in slowing the 60-ton beast.
The heavy tank skidded, slewed sideways - and demolished a streetside light pole.
Not to mention gouged the pavement and gutter of the median strip.
Believe it or not, the Russian-made tank itself will need serious fender bending to put it back in shape.
Rollers for its tracks were buckled out of alignment, and several of the reactive-armour blocks, designed to explode outwards as a missile strikes, lining its side were crushed.
It was a tow-away job.
