British tanks partake in Ukrainian advance into Kursk Region – Sky News
According to a report from Sky News, Ukraine is employing British Challenger 2 tanks in its offensive operations against Russian territory. Read Full Article at RT.com.
![British tanks partake in Ukrainian advance into Kursk Region – Sky News](https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.08/thumbnail/66bdf5f720302729aa3b9176.jpg?#)
According to Sky News, Ukrainian forces are currently using British Challenger 2 main battle tanks within Russia's Kursk Region. The UK government has provided a total of 14 of these main battle tanks, urging other NATO countries to supply heavy weaponry after the donation was announced in January 2023. Although the tanks were delivered to Ukraine's 82nd Air Assault Brigade, they remained largely in reserve following the loss of several units to Russian drones and artillery during Ukraine's counteroffensive later that year.
The 82nd Air Assault Brigade is among the Ukrainian units engaged in incursions into Russian territory. Citing an anonymous source, Sky News reported that some of the Challenger 2 tanks have been deployed in these operations but did not offer further specifics on their use within Russia.
On Wednesday, a Russian military-focused Telegram channel suggested that footage of a drone strike on a Ukrainian tank released by another source shows the destruction of a Challenger 2 tank. This video was first made public last Sunday and reportedly depicts a Lancet loitering munition targeting near the town of Sheptukhovka in the Kursk Region. At the time, Radio Free Europe, a US-funded news outlet, indicated that the area was close to the active frontline.
While US and allied officials have stated they were not aware of the Ukrainian offensive into Russia beforehand, they have expressed support for the operation and the usage of their weaponry. Britain’s Labour government emphasized this week that its stance on donated arms aligns with that of the previous Conservative administration.
Former Defence Secretary Ben Wallace told The Times he had set the guidelines allowing Ukraine to target Russian locations with the materials supplied, apart from long-range Storm Shadow missiles. “If that [attacks on Russian targets] involved the use of British weapons, as long as they were used in accordance with international law that was always permitted,” he remarked regarding the policy established over a year ago.
Moscow views the conflict in Ukraine as a NATO proxy war against Russia, asserting that Ukrainian soldiers are utilized as "cannon fodder." Russian officials have claimed that the hostilities were instigated by the expansion of the US-led military alliance and its growing presence in Ukraine.
James del Carmen contributed to this report for TROIB News