Freshly surfaced footage appears to depict a U.S.-provided M1 Abrams tank engulfed in smoke near the front lines of eastern Ukraine, marking a significant development amidst Russia’s claims of targeting a convoy of these heavily fortified American tanks subsequent to the seizure of Avdiivka, a city in the region.
The footage, comprising brief clips and images, has swiftly circulated across social media platforms and among Russian military circles, portraying scenes of smoke billowing from what seems to be an Abrams tank. In one particularly striking snippet, a video appears to capture the moment a Russian-operated first-person-view strike drone makes contact with the tank.
According to reports from Russian state media, Moscow’s forces purportedly struck three Abrams tanks in close proximity to Avdiivka within the past week. The first incident, occurring on February 26, allegedly saw the complete destruction of one Abrams by a first-person-view drone. Subsequently, two additional Abrams tanks were reportedly targeted, although specifics regarding the extent of damage inflicted remain undisclosed.
The commitment of 31 M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine by the U.S. in early 2023 had been a notable development, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirming the arrival of the first batch of American tanks in September 2023.
Despite assertions from U.S. officials regarding the potential impact of these formidable M1A1 SA tanks on the battlefield, experts had expressed skepticism, suggesting that the deployment of relatively few vehicles with intricate logistical requirements was unlikely to yield significant strategic shifts, particularly several months into Kyiv’s summer counteroffensive.
The 47th Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Ground Forces appear have Lost their 2nd M1A1 SA “Abrams” Main Battle Tank during Fighting to Defend the Town of Berdychi in the Donetsk Region, the Tank reportedly Struck an Anti-Tank Mine and was eventually Abandoned, with it later… pic.twitter.com/74ObbJAjxP
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) March 3, 2024
The loss of an Abrams tank by Ukraine’s 47th Mechanized Brigade during combat operations near the town of Berdychi in the Donetsk Region further underscores the challenges faced. The tank, reportedly disabled by an anti-tank mine, was eventually abandoned, as depicted in footage shared by an open-source intelligence account.
Russian-installed official Vladimir Saldo had previously announced on February 26 the destruction of an Abrams tank in the vicinity of Avdiivka, coinciding with Russia’s takeover of the city in mid-February. Efforts by Ukraine to fortify defensive positions west of Avdiivka have been ongoing in response to these developments.
Acknowledging Russia’s claims, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov remarked on the anticipated vulnerability of the Abrams tanks, echoing sentiments expressed by Ukrainian fighters who had cautioned about their susceptibility to destruction in combat.
Amidst the ongoing clashes around Avdiivka, the utilization of Abrams tanks by Ukraine’s 47th Mechanized Brigade was reported last month, signaling an intensification of the conflict in the region.
As the situation continues to unfold, the emergence of footage capturing the burning M1 Abrams near the village of Berdychi serves as a stark reminder of the realities faced by both sides in the escalating conflict in eastern Ukraine.
