Russia celebrates ‘destruction of British Challenger-2 tank involved in Kursk raid’ as footage shows armoured vehicle being blown up by drone

A British Challenger-2 tank involved in the Ukrainian attack on Kursk has been “destroyed”, pro-Putin war reporters have claimed.

A video has emerged from the battlefield showing an armored vehicle being blown up by a drone.

Sources reported today that Ukrainian forces are using British Challenger 2 tanks in their offensive in Russia. However, this has not been confirmed by the Ministry of Defence.

The footage, shared on social media app Telegram, shows a huge explosion on the battlefield, detonating the tank, reportedly deployed by Ukraine’s 82nd Brigade.

According to the Telegram channel Svarshchiki (Welders), the missile was shot down by a low-flying Russian Lancet-3 kamikaze drone near Sudzha on Russian territory occupied by Ukraine.

“Our technically skilled operator dived the Lancet-3 in the upper hemisphere by diving through the upper armor plate of the hull,” the channel reported.

Another channel, Operatsia Z – Voenkory Russkoy Vesny, reported: ‘After a precision strike, the British tank’s ammunition exploded, completely destroying it…

‘This is the first time that the Challenger 2, which is in service with the AFU, has been destroyed by a UAV on our front lines.

‘The power of the Lancet has been proven and the enemy has suffered heavy losses.’

The Telegram channel Voenniy Osvedomitel added: “You can note the characteristic explosion of the propellant charges, which in the Challenger, unlike other modern tanks of the Western tank design school, are openly located on the floor of the fighting compartment.”

There is no independent confirmation of the Russian claims about the destruction of the alleged Challenger 2 tank.

Moreover, it would not be the first time that a tank of this type has been destroyed during the conflict.

In September last year, images emerged of the burning wreckage of a British Challenger 2 tank after it was hit by Russian forces in Ukraine.

The military vehicle was destroyed near Robotyne, Zaporizhia region. It was also the first time that one of the British-supplied tanks was seen on the front in Ukraine.

It is believed to be one of the former main battle tanks of the 82nd Air Assault Brigade, which has played a key role in the counter-offensive in the south since August last year.

Newly released footage shows a Russian fighter nicknamed the Terminator headbutting or punching a kamikaze drone pursuing him.

A large explosion occurs, but the soldier can be seen standing as he leaves the scene of the incident after the incident.

“In the Special Military Operations Zone, he headbutted a Ukrainian drone and was unharmed,” Ridus News reported, calling him the Russian Terminator.

Russian war correspondent Alexander Kots said the FPV controller had flown the drone “spotting” close to the fighter jet before killing it.

“Our fighter takes a stance as if he were in a boxing ring,” he said.

‘The drone attacks and the soldier jumps forward and hits the drone head-on.

There’s an explosion.

The smoke clears and our hero walks calmly into the forest.

“How can you not believe that God is on our side?”

The videos were recorded as Ukrainian forces continued the cross-border offensive they launched on August 6.

Kiev troops have begun seizing Russian territory in the largest cross-border attack on the country since World War II.

Since then, the Ukrainians have managed to advance as much as 32 kilometers in some directions and capture dozens of towns and settlements.

Since last Tuesday, more than 120,000 Russian citizens have been forced to flee their homes due to large-scale evacuations in the region. 12 civilians are reported to have died.