This is the moment a large fireball fills the sky as a Ukrainian brigade blast a Russian BMP-3 tank.
The strike is said to have taken place in the south of the region of Kharkiv Oblast in north-eastern Ukraine.
The Ukrainian military said that they destroyed Russian BMP-3 military fighting vehicles in the attack. The abbreviation BMP stands for “boevaya mashina pehoty” which means “infantry combat vehicle”).
The 93rd Independent Kholodnyi Yar Mechanized Brigade, a formation of the Ukrainian Ground Forces, said in a statement on 4th May: “A short but vivid and optimistic video of the work of the Cold War – destroying enemy BMP-3s in the south of Kharkiv region.”
The brigade added: “Good morning, Ukraine! We continue to protect you from occupation!”
The video of the smoking vehicle then shows a sudden explosion as a fireball engulfs the tank, sending a plume of smoke into the air.
The BMP-3 is an amphibious tank troop carrier and in the drone footage can be seen close to the water’s edge which it may recently have crossed before being destroyed.
It can carry a squad of infantry and also comes equipped with a powerful gun capable of firing high explosive shells that can demolish buildings.
However, it has a poor track record for safety, with a poorly designed crew department and it is also difficult to exit in case of an emergency.
The footage shows the vehicle already smoking, but nobody appears to be attempting to flee and it’s unclear how many people were inside, and whether it was carrying troops at the time.
Seconds later a further explosion destroys the vehicle completely.
Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February in what the Kremlin called a “special military operation”. Today marks the 70th day of the campaign.
From 24th February to 4th May, the total combat losses of Russian troops stand at around 24,500 personnel, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The Ukrainian military also claims that Russia has lost 1,077 battle tanks, 2,610 combat armored vehicles, 491 artillery systems, 163 MLR systems, 81 anti-aircraft systems, 194 warplanes, 155 helicopters, 1,867 vehicles, 10 vessels, 76 fuel tank trucks, 303 operational-tactical level UAVs, 38 units of special equipment, and 87 cruise missiles have been shot down.
Meanwhile, a host of international organizations have banned Russia, already hit by economic sanctions, from taking part in sporting and cultural events, such as this year’s FIFA World Cup in Qatar, in response to the country’s invasion.
