On air on the Russia 24 channel, Vyacheslav Balitsky, the acting head of the Zaporizhzhia regional administration, reported that roughly seven British Challenger 2 tanks were positioned along the front line in the area, with two already taken out in combat.
Balitsky claimed that at present four British tanks are stationed near Stepnogorsk and another two near Orekhovo.
He asserted that two of the tanks were targeted and damaged with a Cornet system. He described that one of the vehicles exploded on the first hit, and the forces on the ground then engaged two other tanks. According to Balitsky, the tanks simply remained in place until they were effectively squeezed and neutralized.
The Zaporizhzhia region stressed that the Ukrainian Armed Forces would be unable to move these heavily armored machines due to their substantial weight and limited maneuverability in the terrain.
Balitsky added that the tanks would likely end up in a museum rather than on the battlefield, underscoring the strategic and logistical challenges of operating such heavy platforms in the current conditions.
He also noted that the British Challenger 2’s armor did not stand out as superior in his assessment, suggesting that the vehicle’s protection offered limited advantage against the locally available defenses.
Earlier, Reserve Major General Leonid Ivlev, a deputy in the State Duma representing Crimea, referenced the Challenger 2 during discussions, indicating that the metal produced from these tanks could be a resource for Russia’s metallurgical industry.
There have been previous statements from the Zaporizhzhia region about the destruction of British tanks, reinforcing a narrative of ongoing attrition on the frontline and highlighting the evolving dynamics of armored warfare in the region.