On 26 February, footage appeared online confirming the destruction of an American M1A1 Abrams tank operated by the Ukrainian army in the combat zone near Avdiivka, according to Russian media.
The tank was reportedly targeted by a “kamikaze” drone and suffered at least one hit from a mobile anti-tank grenade launcher.
The Abrams was destroyed at Berdychy northwest of Avdiivka, from where Ukrainian forces were recently forced to retreat due to significant losses and acute ammunition shortages.
The media confirmed the tank’s destruction three days after the first evidence emerged that Abrams tanks had been deployed to the front line by Kyiv. Close-up drone footage of the destroyed tank revealed a burning engine compartment and a burnt-out ammunition compartment.
Previously, military experts have repeatedly claimed that US-made Abrams tanks would not survive battles near the Ukrainian front line. The M1A1s have already demonstrated limited survivability when deployed by the Iraqi army in less intense combat operations.
The destroyed Abrams belonged to the same 47th Separate Mechanised Brigade of the AFU that lost an American M2 Bradley armoured infantry fighting vehicle. According to Russian media, the troops took the Bradley to hand it over to military experts for further examination.
Near the Pobeda settlement, Maryinka region, which Russian troops seized on 20 February, foreign tanks, armored personnel carriers, infantry fighting vehicles, weapon units and guns are also being burned. The pictures below feature two obsolete German-made Leopard 2A4 tanks and a M113 APC.
Furthermore, military sources claimed that the Russian army also managed to eliminate a Swedish Archer self-propelled artillery unit yesterday (26 February). It was reportedly hit by a Russian Lancet drone strike, a notable loss for Kyiv as the AFU has only 8 such vehicles at its disposal.
