Russian soldiers approached the abandoned Bradley armored vehicle near Avdeevka, dragging it away while Ukrainian UAVs and artillery continued to attack.
On December 6, Russia's 1TV channel released a video of an intact M2A2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicle captured from Ukraine and hidden in a warehouse in Lugansk province, while also revealing information about the operation conducted by the country's units to pull the vehicle back to the rear under enemy fire.
"Soldiers from the Central Army shot and broke the Bradley's tracks during fighting near the city of Avdeevka in Donetsk region at the end of November. The Ukrainian crew abandoned the vehicle and retreated to the rear. The technical logistics and reconnaissance units jointly developed a plan to capture the vehicle," Russian television reported.
At the time of the hit, the Ukrainian Bradley was in a patch of forest in the "gray zone", a term used to describe areas disputed between the two sides, about 500 meters from the Russian defense line.
Ukrainian Bradley vehicle seized by Russian forces in video released on December 6. Video: 1TV
Russian soldiers took advantage of the darkness and thick fog to deploy a tow truck to the Bradley’s position, intending to bring it back to the rear. However, the tow hook on the Ukrainian armored vehicle broke after only about 200 meters and the 34-ton vehicle became completely stuck.
"The enemy started shelling the position of the previously disabled vehicle. We had to retreat, call for support and return later with two tow trucks. The Bradley was stuck, forcing us to use a tow truck and a trolley behind it to get it out of the mud," a Russian soldier recalled.
The Russian soldiers had to move at night without headlights, in an area with many minefields and were constantly attacked by Ukrainian forces. "After leaving for a few kilometers, they witnessed enemy artillery shelling the area, including cluster munitions," Russian television reported.
The operation to capture the Bradley Fighting Vehicle lasted about two hours, and all participants were awarded the Medal of Valor.
The released images show multiple holes in the vehicle’s side reactive armor, apparently caused by a Ukrainian explosive-laden drone, but no damage to the interior. The main gun, front reactive armor, and much of the vehicle’s equipment have been removed.
A preliminary assessment by Russian technicians shows that the Bradley was manufactured in 2022, has only run 240 km, and has a full load of ammunition. The English control panels are covered with Ukrainian interfaces so that the soldiers operating them will not be confused in combat situations. "It seems to have been disabled on its first deployment," commented a member of the tow truck crew.
Location of hot spots on the Donetsk and Kharkov fronts. Graphics: RYV
Avdeevka is a key town north of the capital of Donetsk Oblast. The city is currently controlled by Ukraine and has been one of the targets of Russian attacks in the region. Kiev has deployed the 47th Independent Mechanized Brigade, which is equipped with Leopard 2A6 tanks and Bradley Fighting Vehicles, known as the “Iron Fist” of the Ukrainian army, to reinforce Avdeevka since mid-October.
Russia has now surrounded Avdeevka from the north, south and east, forcing the Ukrainian army to only maintain supplies and reinforcements to the city from the west. This situation has made Avdeevka known as "the second Bakhmut", the city that Kiev lost to Moscow in May, after a battle that lasted more than 10 months and left thousands of soldiers dead on both sides.
Vu Anh (According to 1TV )
Source link
Comment (0)