Ukraine Bradleys Assault Russian Troops, Survive Grenade Launcher Hit—Video

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A video posted online purportedly shows two M2 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs) of Ukraine's 47th Mechanized Brigade launching a bold assault on a Russian defensive position while enduring sustained enemy fire in a recent operation near the Kursk region of Russia.

In the video posted to Telegram and reposted on X, formerly Twitter, it is claimed that Ukraine forces used Bradleys to "mow down a Russian tree line, survive grenade launcher and FPV [first-person view drone] hits and successfully disengage, preserving their vehicles and experienced crews," as reported by X account @wartranslated.

As previously reported by Newsweek, the U.S. has sent more than 300 Bradleys to Ukraine, plus four support vehicles, according to Pentagon documents. Kyiv's 47th Mechanized Brigade, which has been fighting in the east of the country, has been the sole known operator of the IFVs, as well as U.S.' M1 Abrams main battle tanks.

According to The Associated Press, the Bradley is a "medium armored combat vehicle that can serve as a troop carrier. It has tracks rather than wheels, but the vehicle is lighter and more agile than a tank. It can carry about 10 personnel, or be configured instead to carry additional ammunition or communications equipment."

The Bradleys seemingly demonstrated their resilience in the assault shown in the video, withstanding a direct hit from grenade launcher strikes and from FPV drones, before successfully retreating without reported critical damage or loss of personnel.

Newsweek could not independently verify the footage and has reached out to the Russian Defense Ministry and Ukraine government press office for comment via email on Monday.

47th Mechanized Brigade
A Ukrainian serviceman of the 47th Mechanized Brigade prepares for combat a Bradley fighting vehicle in the Donetsk region on February 11, 2024. A video uploaded online purportedly shows the division assaulting Russian forces with... Genya SAVILOV / AFP/Getty Images

A commander with the 47th Mechanized Brigade told Newsweek in January 2024 thatRussian soldiers were "afraid" to launch operations "when they know that a Bradley will be against them."

As Ukrainian forces continue to fight in contested areas, they are increasingly using Bradleys as a versatile, high-survivability asset. In this alleged mission, the Bradleys were deployed to dismantle Russian positions embedded within a forested area.

Utilizing the IFVs' firepower, the brigade's maneuver appeared to breach the tree line, disabling Russian positions and suppressing infantry with the Bradleys' 25 mm M242 Bushmaster chain guns.

During the engagement, Russian forces are reported to have responded with intense counterfire, including multiple grenade launcher rounds aimed directly at the IFVs, as well as several FPV drone strikes targeting the Ukrainian vehicles' flanks.

The 47th Mechanized Brigade's reported success in Kursk would seem to demonstrate the strategic value of the Bradley IFVs on the front lines.

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