Russia claims drone strike on US-made Abrams tank in Kursk region

Record ID: 1888807

  • Title: Russia claims drone strike on US-made Abrams tank in Kursk region
  • Date: 18th December 2024
  • Summary: Russia claims drone strike on US-made Abrams tank in Kursk region RESTRICTION: USERS MUST CREDIT “RUSSIAN DEFENSE MINISTRY” HANDOUT, MUST NOT OBSCURE LOGO —EDITORIAL USE ONLY— SHOTLIST: UNKNOWN LOCATION (RELEASED ON DEC. 18, 2024) (RUSSIAN DEFENSE MINISTRY - RESTRICTED) 1. VARIOUS OF DRONE SHOTS OF ALLEGED DRONE STRIKE 2. AERIAL VIEW OF TANK SCRIPT Russia on Wednesday, DEC. 18, said that it carried out a drone strike on a US-made Abrams tank in the country’s Kursk region. The Russian Defense Ministry released footage showing the moment of the drone strike, with a statement declaring, "Abrams forever remained on Kursk soil." "Crimean paratroopers' UAV operators identified the US-made Abrams tank. A platoon commander with the call sign "Chekhov" carried out a precise FPV drone strike that immobilized the Ukrainian Armed Forces tank, followed by a second strike from his team, which destroyed the armored vehicle," the statement said on Telegram. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy previously announced that the first batch of Abrams tanks, as promised by the US, had arrived in Ukraine. On Telegram, Zelenskyy stated: "Good news from (Defense) Minister (Rustam) Umerov. Abrams (tanks) are already in Ukraine, we are preparing to reinforce our brigades." The tensions escalated when Kyiv's forces entered the Kursk region between August 5 and 6, near the town of Sudzha, approximately 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) from the border. Russian President Vladimir Putin condemned the incursion as a “large-scale provocation,” labeling it a “terrorist attack” associated with “indiscriminate shooting.” In response, President Zelenskyy articulated that the intention was to establish a “buffer zone” to shield against cross-border assaults from Russia. The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has persisted since February 2022, contributing to ongoing regional instability.
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  • Reuters ID: OWANACAAVIDEO2024121836515967
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  • Copyright Holder: Anadolu Agency
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