Ukraine loses Leopard 2 tanks, Bradley fighting vehicles in assault

Europe, News June 12, 2023 , by IRIA No Comments

Russian military sources claimed that they have destroyed several of Ukraine’s German-made Leopard 2 tanks and U.S.-supplied Bradley vehicles in the last 48 hours during a Ukrainian military-led counteroffensive operation in the Zaporizhzhia region.

The destruction of Ukrainian military vehicles was confirmed by the Russian Ministry of Defense which released footage showing the wreckage of a convoy of Leopard 2 tanks and other Ukrainian armored vehicles traversing an unpaved road outside occupied Novopokrovka, neighboring Mala Tokmachka. One of the tanks, in the footage, can be seen falling victim to a devastating Russian artillery strike.

Russian Defense Ministry claims that Ukrainian troops lost several tanks in the south of Donetsk and in the Zaporizhzhia, including Leopard 2 tanks, as well as 11 infantry fighting vehicles, including Bradleys.

The ministry further said that Russian forces have repelled several major Ukrainian attacks over the past few days. The recently destroyed column of armored vehicles was reported to be a part of Ukraine’s 128th Mountain Assault Brigade in the Zaporizhzhia region.

“During the past day, the armed forces of Ukraine continued unsuccessful attempts of offensive actions in the Donetsk, southern Donetsk, and Zaporizhzhia directions,” the ministry said in a statement.

Russian Defense Ministry awarded the country’s highest military medals to soldiers for destroying German-made Leopard tanks and U.S.-made Bradley fighting vehicles.

*^{Ukrainian forces abandoned one Leopard 2A6, four M2 Bradleys (three of which damaged) and one BMR-2 Mine-Clearing Tank during an attack in the Zaporizhzhia Region. (Image Credit: Twitter)}*

Zaporizhzhia is one of five Ukrainian regions, including the Crimea peninsula, that Russia claims to have annexed. The recent scuffles between Russian and Ukrainian forces have led to several devastating consequences in the region. A wall of the Kakhovka dam in the region collapsed on June 6, triggering floods and threatening the drinking water supply for several cities. Neither side has claimed responsibility for the incident as Kyiv and Moscow blamed each other for the collapse.

Moscow has installed administrators in the regions; however, Ukrainian forces have pushed back with renewed strategies to take back the annexed regions.

Ukraine’s counteroffensive

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on June 9, 2023, that Ukrainian forces have started their counteroffensive. He noted that Kyiv has started to utilize its military reserve to recapture the lost territories, however, the operations have not been successful so far.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also acknowledged the start of Ukraine’s much-anticipated counteroffensive. Ukrainian forces are using the latest military equipment gathered from the allies during the winter.

^{A Ukrainian serviceman looks on and a local resident rides a bicycle while a broken tank is pulled to a truck near the frontline town of Bakhmut, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in the Donetsk region on January 20, 2023. (Image Credit: Reuters/Oleksandr Ratushniak)}

“Counter-offensive and defensive actions are taking place in Ukraine, but I will not say in detail what stage they are at,” Zelenskyy said during a news conference standing alongside visiting Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Ukraine has scaled out its latest counteroffensive strategy that focuses on air strikes and missile attacks. Kyiv has received a large number of missile systems and long-range cruise missiles from its Western partners that are being used in the latest counteroffensive. Ukraine has also improved its air defense system in the wake of Russia’s increased drone and missile attacks.