Media: Ukraine’s best tanks used in Kursk operation

Ukraine’s 21st Mechanised Brigade and 225th Assault Battalion have been spotted in Kursk, operating Swedish-made CV90 fighting vehicles and either Swedish Strv 122 or German Leopard 2A6 tanks—some of the finest in the Ukrainian arsenal.

Footage shared over the weekend by the Ukrainian Khorne Group drone unit captures the intensity of the battle, Caliber.Az reports via Forbes.

A 🇩🇪Leopard 2 , which took hits from Mordor forces and had a burning turret, pulled out from the battlefield a damaged 🇺🇦T-72 tank in Kursk. Glory to the heroes!
🇺🇦Khorne Group. pic.twitter.com/r7AEFTuALj

— Challenger Tank In Ukraine🇬🇧🇺🇦 (@ChallengerInUA) September 29, 2024

In one video, a Strv 122 or Leopard 2A6 can be seen towing a damaged T-72 tank, likely a casualty of Russian drone strikes near Veseloe, when suddenly an explosion occurs beneath or around the towing tank—potentially from a mine or a drone.

Fortunately, the four-person crew of the tank remained unharmed.

As noted in the report, “the Strv 122 and Leopard 2A6 are among the best-protected tanks in the world.” 

Both vehicles, weighing nearly 70 tonnes due to their robust steel and composite armour, were able to withstand the blast. Despite the damage, the Strv 122 or Leopard 2A6 continued towing the T-72 towards the safety of Ukrainian-controlled territory.

With Ukraine receiving only 10 Strv 122s from Sweden and 21 Leopard 2A6s from Germany and Portugal in 2023, every surviving tank is of great value.

Unlike Ukraine’s other brigades equipped with older Leopard 2A4 models, the 21st Mechanised Brigade may struggle to replace battlefield losses, as both Sweden and Germany are currently focused on maintaining their own tank units and are unlikely to supply additional modern tanks.

By Aghakazim Guliyev