Russian forces obliterate M2A2 Bradley in rare combat footage
A recording showcasing a successful and very spectacular Russian attack on one of the M2A2 Bradleys has surfaced online. Although these infantry fighting vehicles have an excellent reputation and greatly assist Ukrainians by often saving their lives, they are not invincible.
The footage was recorded in the Kursk Oblast, Russia. The Ukrainians decided to use many NATO vehicles for the offensive launched there. Reports already confirmed that M2A2 Bradleys, among others, had appeared on Russian territory and are sometimes seen alongside Abrams tanks.
M2A2 Bradley destroyed by Russians
The recording shows one of the M2A2 Bradley units abandoned by the Ukrainian crew, which the Russians spectacularly destroyed. The vehicle, originating from the US, was torn to shreds. Such a sight is rare. It can be assumed that the Russians were not able to evacuate the vehicle to territories under their control safely and thus decided to destroy it.
Each M2A2 Bradley is a very valuable prize for the Russians, and one of the units captured from the Ukrainians was even part of a parade in Moscow. As part of support, the Americans have already delivered about 300 of these infantry fighting vehicles to Ukraine. According to data from the Oryx blog, whose creators document the losses of both sides in the war in Ukraine, Russians have eliminated over 100 M2A2 Bradley units. This includes units destroyed, damaged, or captured.
Valuable vehicle in service of Ukrainians
The M2A2 Bradley is one of the world's most durable infantry fighting vehicles. Its armour is made of steel, aluminium, and composite materials. Additionally, it features a spall liner and an efficient fire suppression system. The M2A2 Bradley can be further reinforced by BRAT (Bradley Reactive Armour Tiles) packages to increase protection against, among other things, RPG-7 grenades. However, Ukrainians also use the M2A2 Bradley on the toughest battlefronts (previously in regions like Avdiivka), resulting in many lost units.
Many recordings and accounts from Ukrainians confirm that M2A2 Bradleys save their lives and help not only in offensive missions (equipped with a 25 mm M242 Bushmaster cannon, a 7.62 mm machine gun, and an anti-tank missile launcher) but also during the evacuation of the wounded (room for a total of 10 people, including three crew members). The exceptional durability of this American design is demonstrated by instances such as surviving encounters with Russian T-72 tanks.
