What I'm suggesting is that there is a definite bias when playing the AI as the Germans. I have noticed that this happens consistently throughout all the scenarios shipped with RT.
The Russian AFVs are in fact "destroyed" (smoking carcasses, big red crosses flashing, dead crew members strewn about...you get the picture).
My point is the actual choice of wording here. I would rather "destroy" the enemy than to simply "knock (him) out".