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Russian forces captured the M2A2 Bradley IFV supplied by the US in battles on the Avdeevka front in the Donetsk People’s Republic. This is the first confirmed case of the entire vehicle to be taken to the Russian rear areas.
According to the reports from the front, the IFV was shot by Russian forces on the northern flank of Avdeevka about two weeks ago. It was abandoned by Ukrainian servicemen, but its evacuation was not possible due to heavy Ukrainian fire. Amid their advance on the front, Russian soldiers dragged it to the rear. The footage confirms that the vehicle was captured in a quite good condition.
The captured IFV was likely abandoned by the 47th Separate Mechanized Brigade “Magura” of the Ukrainian Ground Forces. The unit was formed in 2022. It engaged in the failed Ukrainian counteroffensive in the Zaporozhie region, where it suffered heavy losses both in personnel and military equipment. After Ukrainian defeat on the southern frontlines, the Brigade was deployed in the Avdeevka region. According to open sources, the unit has already lost at least 42 M2A2 Bradley IFVs.
Here’s how Ukrainian troops are dragging their heavily damaged Bradley IFVs supplied by the US with the help of M88 recovery vehicles supplied by the US:
The decision to transfer Bradley IFVs to the Kiev regime was made in early January. The first batch of several dozen vehicles was included in the next package of military assistance. More Bradley IFVs were included to new packages. In total, it was planned to transfer more than 180 vehicles to the war-torn country.
The first Ukrainian Bradleys entered the battles in early June during Kiev’s counteroffensive. In the very first battles, the Ukrainian units suffered heavy losses in various vehicles. The Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) lost almost two dozen Bradleys during one battle near Malaya Tokmachka in the Zaporozhye direction. Losses have increased significantly as a result of attacks on Ukrainian meat grinder assaults.
Dozens of Bradleys were left burning on the battlefields. Most of them were badly damaged, and the Russian military did not have the need and opportunity to move the vehicles entirely to the rear areas. Therefore, they took various components from the damaged IFVs, if it was necessary for study.
