Video Shows Column of Russian APVs Destroyed in Coordinated Attack

Kyiv has released video it says shows the dramatic moments when Russian armored protected vehicles succumbed to a coordinated land and air attack.

Ukraine's defense ministry posted 74 seconds of undated drone footage of what it claimed was an operation by its 47th Mechanized Brigade in the Avdiivka direction in the Donetsk region.

Russian forces have gained momentum following their capture last month of Avdiivka, which had been fiercely fought over for months, but on Thursday Kyiv claimed bragging rights about a purported strike on what it described as three Russian IFVs (infantry fighting vehicles).

Aerial shots from different angles start with the aftermath of an explosion on a road with smoke billowing into the air after an apparent strike on a vehicle as two other vehicles drive away.

Another view purports to show a U.S-supplied Bradley infantry fighting vehicle closing in on a Russian vehicle on a perpendicular road, before confronting it head on and firing at it. Other targets are seen being fired on in the video, which shows the fiery aftermath of the blasts.

Newsweek has contacted the Russian defense ministry for comment about the unverified clip, which as of Thursday afternoon, had received 54,000 views.

"The successful cooperation of anti-tank gunners, artillerymen, FPV drones, and an American Bradley left no chance for an attack by the occupiers," the Ukrainian defense ministry said.

The M2 Bradley is highly maneuverable and fast enough to keep up with heavy armor. First appearing on the Ukrainian battlefield in April 2023, over 100 Bradleys have been reportedly provided to Kyiv by the U.S. so far.

Ukraine's 47th Mechanized Brigade is also reportedly equipped with German-supplied Leopard 2 main battle tanks and on February 23, published a video that showed, for the first time, a U.S.-supplied M1A1 Abrams tank in combat.

However, two days later, Russia released video of what it said was the first M1A1 Abrams to be destroyed in the war so far.

Russian state media reported Moscow's forces had hit three of the tanks close to Avdiivka, one of which it said had been "completely destroyed" although this has not been independently verified. The U.S. pledged 31 M1 Abrams to Ukraine in early 2023.

It comes as the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said that Ukraine's ammunition shortage caused by delays in U.S. aid could soon lead to a Russian breakthroughs on the front lines as Moscow's forces hold the initiative.

The think tank said on Wednesday that Kyiv is being forced to ration critical ammunition, especially artillery shells, and prioritize allocation based on those areas currently facing the most intense Russian attacks.