British Challenger 2 tank destroyed in combat in Ukraine for the first time since 1994
The fact that the crew survived is a testament to the significant advantages of this tank
The British Challenger 2 tank was destroyed in Ukraine for the first time since the start of production in 1994.
This was reported by The Guardian with reference to a video, the authenticity of which was confirmed by the newspaper’s source in the UK Ministry of Defense.
It is unclear what caused the explosion and disabled the tank. The exact time and place of the shooting are also unknown.
A representative of the British Ministry of Defense noted that the situation with the destruction of Challenger 2 demonstrates the advantages of the tank: it is known that the crew did not suffer any losses.
“This emphasizes the quality of the equipment we provide to Ukraine. In the tanks that Ukraine had before receiving support from the West, the crew’s chances of survival were minimal,” the source told The Guardian.
British tanks are in service with the 82nd Air Assault Brigade. Kyiv had hoped to keep them in reserve for use in the event of a breakthrough at the front. However, the brigade was drawn into a battle in a key section of the front near Robotyno in Zaporizhzhia. Kyiv said over the weekend that the Ukrainian Armed Forces had broken through the first line of defense of Russian troops there.
The UK has handed over 14 such tanks to Ukraine as part of a European initiative to provide heavy armored vehicles. However, it was not known that they were actively used in combat operations on the front line.
The second country to use these tanks, besides the UK, is Oman.
