Images of damaged and destroyed U.S.-donated M4A2-ODS Bradley Fighting Vehicles have begun to surface as Ukraine presses its counteroffensive in the Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk oblasts.
The open source intelligence organization Oryx claims that during an offensive in the Zaporizhzia area, Ukrainian soldiers apparently abandoned four M2 Bradleys, one Leopard 2A6 tank, and one BMR-2 Mine-Clearing vehicle. The group has been keeping a tally of cars lost, damaged, or captured on both sides, disseminating data only on those it has verified visually.
Attempts to breach Russian fortifications south of Malaya Tokmachka resulted in the vehicles’ destruction, as reported by the Russian Warrior DV Telegram channel.
Independent open source investigator Oliver Alexander reviewed video of the incident and concluded that after the initial loss of four Bradleys, a Leopard, and a BMR-2 armored demining vehicle in one location, “4 more M2A2 Bradley ODS-SA IFVs drove to the exact same position and started taking loses.”
Rob Lee, an analyst, said to The War Zone that several of the cars in the photo were destroyed by explosives. Pentagon officials also wouldn’t speculate on potential problems that may arise if Russia were to seize any Bradleys or comment on whether or not those vehicles had been damaged or destroyed. The nature of the battle necessitated taking it into account before Bradleys were made available.
“The Bradleys provided to Ukraine were the exportable variant, much like the other security assistance that was delivered,” a Pentagon spokesman said to The War Zone.
