The movie is The Beast , also known as The Beast of War. It’s a 1988 war film set during the Soviet war in Afghanistan, and it includes the scene where a Soviet tank unit attacks an Afghan village.

Why it fits

  • The story centers on a Russian/Soviet tank crew in Afghanistan.
  • Plot descriptions specifically mention the tank commander destroying a peaceful Afghani village.
  • It’s commonly listed under both titles, The Beast and The Beast of War.

Quick note

If you were thinking of a different film with a similar setup, the next most likely candidate is still this same movie, since that village-attack scene is one of its defining plot points.