British Challenger 2 tank destroyed in combat for first time, Ukraine footage shows

A battlefield video circulated on social media overnight appears to show the destruction of a British Challenger 2 in Ukraine, which would be the first time one of the tanks has been destroyed in combat.

At the beginning of the video, filmed from a car trying to flee the fighting, the Challenger 2 with its distinctive gun barrel is seen shrouded in thick, grey smoke. It is unclear what has caused the blaze.

Destroyed Ukrainian Challenger 2 outside of Robotyne, most likely from the 82nd Air Assault Brigade. pic.twitter.com/KInjnmfs4F

— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) September 5, 2023

Experts confirmed the identity of the tank from the video, but it is unclear exactly when and where it was filmed, though people are heard speaking in Ukrainian when they see a second immobilised tank.

No Challenger 2 has been lost in combat since it was first deployed in 1994, although one was destroyed in a friendly fire incident in Iraq in 2003. The record is partly due to the relatively small numbers built and its infrequent deployment.

Britain gave 14 of the tanks to Ukraine earlier this year as part of a European effort to provide western heavy armour. It is not clear if they have been heavily used on the frontline.

They were attached to Ukraine’s 82nd air assault brigade, and Kyiv hoped to keep them in reserve to exploit any frontline breakthrough. The brigade was thrown into battle in August on the key Zaporizhzhia front around Robotyne, where Ukraine said over the weekend it has breached the first Russian defensive line.

Britain has 213 Challenger 2 tanks remaining after donating the 14 to Ukraine, although MPs were told in March that 157 were available for operations. The only other country to use the tanks is Oman.