Ukrainian Forces Destroy 10 Russian Tanks In One Night

Destruction of that many tanks in one attack suggest the Russian troops are being ordered to advance despite soggy spring ground. This limits them to roads and makes them easier targets as they were at the beginning of the invasion. 

It also suggests that Russian army leadership are under pressure to demonstrate an 'offensive mindset' which puts their troops and weapons at considerable risk. JL

Brendan Cole reports in Newsweek:

Ukraine said on Saturday its forces had successfully targeted Russian tanks overnight. "Nine or ten? TEN! that's how many Russian tanks were destroyed by special forces of the SBU "White Wolves" in just one night!" The SBU said that an armored personnel carrier was also hit the in the strikes in the direction of Russian-occupied Donetsk. It comes after another video went viral showing Ukrainian forces striking one of Russia's T-90 tanks, considered to be among the invaders' most advanced equipment. National Guards were among Ukraine's forces which had "tracked down and destroyed the T90 Proryv tank."

Ukraine has said that video released on Saturday shows how its forces had successfully targeted Russian tanks overnight.

The clip tweeted by Ukraine's security service the SBU shows a bird's eye view of military vehicles exploding after being hit from above.

"Nine or ten? TEN! that's how many Russian tanks were destroyed by special forces of the SBU "White Wolves" in just one night!," the SBU said on Telegram next to the clip, which as of Saturday afternoon had received more than 47,000 views.

The SBU said that an armored personnel carrier was also hit the in the strikes in the direction of Russian-occupied Donetsk. The video has not been independently verified and the exact location of the purported strikes was not mentioned. Newsweek has emailed Russia's defense ministry for comment.

 

It comes after another video went viral allegedly showing Ukrainian forces striking one of Russia's T-90 tanks, which are considered to be among the invaders' most advanced equipment.

Ukrainian internal affairs advisor Anton Gerashchenko tweeted how his country's National Guards brigade was among Ukraine's forces which had "tracked down and destroyed the pride of Russian defense industry—the T90 Proryv tank."

On Saturday, Kyiv held discussions with American officials about upcoming U.S. military assistance, including weapons and ammunition, the Ukrainian presidential chief-of-staff Andriy Yermak wrote on Telegram.

They discussed "the current situation at the front, combat operations in the most difficult directions, as well as about the urgent needs of the Ukrainian army," Yermak wrote according to a translation.

 

On the call was U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin who said on Thursday that Ukraine "doesn't have any time to waste" ahead of an anticipated spring offensive.

Austin had said said that the U.S. had to deliver "swiftly and fully" on what it had promised Kyiv. That included getting armored capabilities to the battlefield and making sure Ukrainian troops get "the training, spare parts, and maintenance support they need," Politico reported.