It appears that Ukrainian forces attempted to carry out a small attack on the southern front. Russian forces attacked armored personnel carriers participating in the operation: Ukrainian soldiers lost at least one Leopard 2A4 tank and a T-64BV tank, as well as a BTR-80 armored personnel carrier.
Although Ukrainian soldiers “only” abandoned the devices after they became immobile, a Russian drone later destroyed the Leopard 2A4.
The destroyed Ukrainian Leopard 2 tank is likely the same combat vehicle whose photos spread on the Internet shortly after Ukraine received the first German tanks. The red and black flag of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) can be seen on top of the tank. The Ukrainians “displayed” the same Leopard 2A4 tank after the delivery of the first tank. The tank can also be seen in a series of Getty Images photos taken in the moments before the “Spring Offensive”. This tank is often seen as an illustrative example in coverage of Leopard 2s, with the famous UPA flag on it. Our cover photo shows him a few days before the Spring Offensive.
Cover image credit: Serhii Mykhalchuk/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images
