Two drones disabled the multimillion-dollar weapon operated by Ukraine, according to the Russian Defense Ministry
Russian forces have disabled a US-donated Abrams main battle tank deployed by Ukraine in Kursk Region, the Defense Ministry reported on Wednesday.
Drone operators belonging to Russian Airborne Troops used two kamikaze aircraft to take out the costly armored vehicle, according to footage published by the military.
The clip shows the tank rolling down a road as a first-person view (FPV) quadcopter pursues it and strikes its turret. Moments later a second one approaches the same location and hits the vulnerable spot where the turret attaches to the main body.
The Western-donated vehicle was apparently modified by Ukrainian operators, who added an improvised anti-drone cage protecting it from above, which evidently was of little use in this case.
The video released by the ministry concludes with a drone pilot demonstrating a weaponized aircraft, which he says is of the same design as the ones used against the Abrams.
US lawmakers previously approved the transfer of 31 M1 Abrams tanks to Kiev, worth $400 million. It was part of a Western effort to bolster the Ukrainian army before its 2023 “counteroffensive” against Russian forces. The operation failed to produce any significant gains.
Earlier this month, US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan cited the tank donation as an example of support that garnered a lot of media attention, but had little impact on the battlefield.
“These Abrams tank units are actually undermanned because it’s not the most useful piece of equipment for them in this fight,” he said at the Reagan National Defense Forum.
Kiev launched an offensive into Russia’s Kursk Region in August, with the stated aim of alleviating pressure on other parts of the front and seizing territory to use as a bargaining chip in future peace talks.
Moscow estimates casualties suffered by Ukraine in the push at over 41,000. No amount of Western military aid can change the outcome of the conflict, according to Russian officials. Moscow claims the outgoing administration of US President Joe Biden is pouring resources into the fighting to inflict damage on Russia while using Ukrainians as mere “cannon fodder.”
