A Ukrainian Challenger 2 tank was recently destroyed in Zaporizhzhia, according to the Kyiv Post and open-source intelligence source OSINTtechnical.
The tank, one of 14 supplied to Ukraine by the British in January, was seen in videos online burning by the side of a road in the recently liberated town of Robotyne.
Destroyed Ukrainian Challenger 2 outside of Robotyne, most likely from the 82nd Air Assault Brigade. pic.twitter.com/KInjnmfs4F
— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) September 5, 2023
It was unclear exactly how the tank was destroyed, but analysts at the Kyiv Post suggested that it was targeted by active artillery fire. The sentiment was shared by OSINTtechnical who suggested that the assault on the tank originated from the 82nd Air Assault Brigade. The 82nd Brigade has been known to be active in the Zaporizhzhia region which was hit by heavy Russian assaults.
Unfortunate timing for the tank's destruction
The apparent first loss of a 69-ton, four-person tank, comes just days after the Ukrainian defense ministry highlighted the tank in a video interview with an 82nd Brigade trooper, according to Forbes.
The tank had been described as “a sniper rifle among tanks” by one of the operators in footage shared by Ukraine's defense ministry.
"A sniper rifle among tanks" - A Ukrainian tanker shares impressions of using a British Challenger 2 tank in battle. - "We could use a few more companies in Ukraine... russian tanks would be too scared to come out." pic.twitter.com/18tcMMIRuj
— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) September 3, 2023
The operator had gone on to describe how the tank would “undoubtedly set a world record when it hit a T-55 from a distance of more than five kilometers.
“You’re basically just scaring the Russians with the sound of the engine.