Russian Forces Seize Leopard tanks, Bradley AFVs in Ukraine

Days after Russia claimed it blew up first of Ukrainian Bradleys, it seized a couple of such vehicles along with German-made Leopard tanks.

On Tuesday, Russia’s defense ministry uploaded a video showing trophy Ukrainian weapons confiscated in the Zaporizhzhia region, where fierce battle is taking place after Ukraine launched its counteroffensive.

Moscow said some of the combat trophies are in working condition. "Some combat vehicles have operational engines, which suggests the transience of battles and the escape of Ukrainian crews from combat-fit hardware," the ministry said.

The video shows Russian troops examining the enemy tanks and infantry fighting vehicles seized in battles. All the seized equipment is of Western manufacture.

Ukraine’s deputy minister of foreign affairs, Andrii Melnyk, has requested more Leopard-2 tanks on top of what has already been delivered to the Ukrainian military.

“Each Leopard 2 is worth its weight in gold for a decisive offensive,” added the former ambassador of Ukraine in Berlin.

Ukraine has received 18 Leopard-2 tanks from Germany. According to some unverified reports doing rounds on social media, Kyiv has allegedly lost about 20-30% of its Leopard-2 tanks across different variants.