Know this: just because the U.S. is sending Ukraine some of its best weapons of war does not mean that Russia can’t take them down or destroy them.
Recent footage of Ukraine suggests that Moscow can defeat some of America’s best-armored weapons.
While there is no need to panic – there is no super weapon in a war that can’t be destroyed – it should remind us this conflict is far from over.
The War In Ukraine: New Video Shows Dead and Destroyed American Armor
A series of videos and photographs shared on Telegram back in June show several Ukrainian tanks and Bradley IFVs, donated by the United States, left abandoned and destroyed in a field in Orikhiv, a city in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Ukraine.
In a June 9 Telegram post by the “Warrior DV” account, photographs and video footage show how Russian forces left Leopard tanks and Bradley infantry fighting vehicles immobilized in a rural field.
The post described how a Ukrainian military official identified a Leopard 2A6, based on the shape of the turret and the barrel ejector, as well as three Bradley IFVs and another unidentified vehicle that appeared to use the same chassis as a Bradley.
The images and video were reposted on Twitter by war analyst Rob Lee, who noted that several additional damaged or destroyed vehicles could be seen in the surrounding area, including several wheeled videos. Lee also noted that, as many of the vehicles were not completely destroyed, the crew using the vehicles very likely survived the Russian attacks.
Of course, 19FortyFive cannot confirm all videos and images are authentic. We did show all images and video to renowned Russian military analysts and their were of the collective mind that they were real.
“The video shows additional damaged or destroyed vehicles, including wheeled vehicles. Many of them were not catastrophic kills, which means the crew/dismounts likely survived,” Lee wrote.
When analyzed more closely, screenshots from the video also appear to show at least two mine rollers left abandoned among the vehicles. Lee, posting the stills on Twitter, noted that many of the tanks and Bradleys seen in the clip may be recoverable – meaning that they are now under threat of Russian drone attacks designed to disable equipment before it can be recovered.
“The images show at least two mine-rollers. Many of the tanks and Bradley’s [sic] are likely recoverable, but this is where Russian FPV loitering munitions, UAV-dropped grenades, and Ka-52-launched ATGMs can be an issue,” Lee wrote.
Much in the same way that Ukrainian forces use drones to drop grenades and other munitions onto partially-immobilized vehicles, Russian forces will also deploy drones to destroy vehicles that may not be easily recoverable by Russian troops but still within reach of Ukrainian forces.
M2 Bradley. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
Additional footage from the same area shows the immediate aftermath of the Russian strikes. The video, shared on Telegram, shows the vehicles going up in flames, with several explosions causing major damage to a number of tanks.
The video shows additional damaged or destroyed vehicles, including wheeled vehicles. Many of them were not catastrophic kills, which means the crew/dismounts likely survived. 2/ pic.twitter.com/ggKzdi21Lm
— Rob Lee (@RALee85) June 9, 2023
Jack Buckby is 19FortyFive’s top Ukraine reporter and breaking news writer.