A video posted Monday to social media by the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) showed a Ukrainian paratrooper taking out four Russian armored vehicles in a single attack.
In the Facebook post, the AFU's 79th Tavria Separate Airborne Assault Brigade said five Russian armored vehicles recently attempted to break through the defense formation of paratroopers serving with the Tavria Operational-Strategic Group in the Donetsk region. In response, Ukraine's troops "opposed the daring enemy onslaught with courage and high military skill," including the anti-tank gunner who attacked the four Russian vehicles.
"In this battle, the anti-tank gunner of one of the units of the brigade-—junior Sergeant Andrii G—was especially distinguished," said the AFU's post, which included a video of the paratrooper's assault on the Russian vehicles. "With well-hit shots from the Javelin anti-tank missile system, he destroyed four armored vehicles, disrupting the enemy's attack."
American-made Javelin systems, a portable anti-tank missile system, were first provided to Ukraine shortly after Russia invaded the country in February 2022. In the video shared by the AFU, the Russian vehicles are seen smoking and in flames after being targeted by Andrii G. Kyiv's military said that the vehicles were "left burning in the field" and that "most of the enemy infantrymen were destroyed" in the attack.
The AFU also said in its Facebook post that paratroopers belonging to the 79th airborne assault brigade have destroyed or damaged 29 Russian combat vehicles so far in the war, resulting in over 200 Russian casualties. Andrii G has personally taken out 22 armored vehicles, the post said.
Newsweek reached out to Russia's Ministry of Defense for comment via email.
Ukrainian sources said last week that Russia has lost more than 6,000 main battle tanks since the start of the war, including 12 vehicles that were lost in the 24 hours before the report. Western leaders have estimated heavy military losses for Russia during the nearly 23 months of fighting, including over 13,000 personnel and 220 combat vehicles during battles just in October last year.
A commander of Kyiv's 47th Mechanized Brigade, who goes by the call sign Kach, told Newsweek in a recent interview that Moscow's soldiers operating armored vehicles are particularly "afraid" when they come across U.S.-provided Bradleys on the battlefield.
The United States has sent 186 M2 Bradleys—an infantry fighting vehicle—to Ukraine as of January 5. Kach said that the tanks are fast, "very maneuverable" and equipped with a "powerful machine gun."
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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Kaitlin Lewis is a Newsweek reporter on the Night Team based in Boston, Massachusetts. Her focus is reporting on national ... Read more
