Ukraine's Leopard 2A4 tanks: Key to halting Russian offensives
A video has surfaced on social media showing the combat use of the Leopard 2A4 tank by a Ukrainian brigade. The German tanks, renowned for their key features and capabilities, have repeatedly helped repel Russian offensives and are held in high regard by Ukrainian soldiers.
The video featuring the Leopard 2A4 tank was shared on the official profile of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence on platform X.
Leopard 2A4 in Ukraine
From the accompanying description, we learn that this tank belongs to the 33rd Mechanised Brigade of the Ukrainian Army. Its representatives have praised the capabilities of these German tanks in interviews.
The video shows the Ukrainian crew of the Leopard 2A4 tank advancing towards Russian positions at the edge of a forest. The Ukrainians have not disclosed the specific frontline where the incident occurred. Previous reports show that the 33rd Mechanised Brigade has operated in the Zaporizhia and Donetsk regions.
Valuable NATO tanks in Ukraine
German Leopards are the most frequently supplied NATO tanks to Ukraine. A significant number of them are the 2A4 variants, produced during the late 1980s and early 1990s. They are often described as the "pinnacle of tank development from the Cold War era."
The original Leopard 2A4 has a Rheinmetall L/44 smoothbore gun of 120 mm calibre, two 7.62 mm machine guns and a smoke grenade launcher. It has a 1500 horsepower engine, allowing the crew to reach speeds of up to approximately 70 km/h (43 mph) on paved surfaces.
According to Ukrainian soldiers, Leopard 2A4 tanks offer good mobility, maneuverability, and superior firepower compared to most post-Soviet and some Russian tanks—partly due to an effective EMES 15 fire control system with thermal imaging.
