The British tank was hit by Russian artillery after which hit once more as troops tended to it, UK Secretary of Defence Grant Shapps says
UK’s newly-appointed Secretary of Defence Grant Shapps has acknowledged the loss in Ukraine of the primary of 14 British-made Challenger 2 principal battle tanks provided by London to Kiev amid its battle with Moscow.
Video footage appeared on social media on Monday displaying what appears to be like like a Challenger 2 tank burning on a battlefield in Zaporozhye Area. Extra proof of the destruction of the British armored car was supplied by drone footage seen on Russian Telegram channels the subsequent day.
“I can verify that’s right. It could be the primary loss [of a Challenger 2 tank] so far as we’re conscious,” Shapps stated throughout a stay look on Sky Information on Wednesday.
“We settle for that within the struggle zone there might be materials losses, which is what’s occurred right here,” he added.
The protection secretary detailed how the ill-fated Challenger 2 had been destroyed, saying that “it was hit by Russian artillery and, really, as they [the Ukrainian servicemen] had been attempting to place out a fireplace, it was hit once more.”
Shapps claimed that there have been six Ukrainian troopers working the tank and that each one of them survived when it was struck, which, in keeping with him, “is a superb testomony to that British package.”
When requested if the UK is planning to supply Kiev with a alternative for the misplaced tank, the protection secretary merely replied “no.”
In early 2023, amid the depletion of Ukraine’s shares of Soviet-era {hardware}, the West promised to provide Kiev with dozens of superior tanks such because the German Leopard 2, the British Challenger 2 and the American Abrams M1.
The Leopard 2s have been actively utilized by the Ukrainian army because the launch of its counteroffensive three months in the past, with quite a few these tanks being destroyed by the Russian forces.
The Challenger 2s had arrived in Ukraine months in the past however, till just lately, there have been no experiences of them being deployed on the battlefield.
As for Abrams M1s, these have but to be provided to Kiev, with knowledgeable sources telling Politico final week that ten out of the 31 tanks promised by Washington would arrive within the nation in a matter of weeks.
Russia has repeatedly warned that deliveries of extra subtle weapons to Ukraine by the US, the UK or the EU might cross its ‘purple traces’ and lead to a serious escalation of hostilities. Moscow additionally argues that the availability of arms, intelligence-sharing and the coaching of Kiev’s troops already signifies that Western nations have de facto turn into events to the battle.
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