Russian Forces Deal Major Blow to Ukrainian Tank Fleet
Russian drones loaded with explosives damaged two Strv 122 tanks belonging to the Ukrainian army's 21st Mechanized Brigade in eastern Ukraine's Donbas region. The Strv 122, considered Ukraine's best tank, has extra armor that could potentially protect it from aerial attacks. The circumstances suggest that the tanks were exposed to mines, a common tactic used by Russian forces. The damaged tanks will need to be assessed for repair or scrapping, and it remains uncertain whether Ukrainian or Russian engineers will recover them. The loss of these tanks poses a challenge for the 21st Mechanized Brigade, which relies heavily on Swedish weaponry donated by Sweden.