Astonishing drone footage from the battlefields of eastern Ukraine has revealed the devastating firepower and accuracy of American-made Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs) being operated by Ukrainian forces. In multiple video clips shared on social media, Bradley IFVs are seen targeting and destroying some of Russia’s most advanced T-90 main battle tanks.
The most dramatic footage shows a Russian T-90, purportedly worth around $4.4 million, being tracked and peppered with 30mm cannon rounds from a Bradley IFV in the village of Stepove in the Donetsk region. The T-90, touted by Russia as the “best tank in the world,” is seen veering off the road after sustaining multiple armor-piercing hits at close range from the Bradley’s Bushmaster chain gun.
Immobilized, the once-fearsome T-90 slams into a roadside tree as smoke billows from its turret. Further bursts from the Bradley’s cannon pound the stricken tank, leaving it a smoldering wreck. The shocking video is a stark illustration of how American armored vehicles like the Bradley, armed with advanced optics and fire control systems, are proving superior in direct combat against Russia’s vaunted T-90s.
In another clip, a Bradley IFV is shown surgically eliminating three Russian BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles as they maneuver through Stepove. The BMPs are seen frantically trying to evade the Bradley’s Bushmaster cannon before being hit with high-explosive rounds and erupting in flames, allowing defending Ukrainian infantry to retreat safely.
The drone footage provides visual confirmation that deliveries of Bradley IFVs, officially announced by the United States last January, are now being used extensively and to devastating effect by Ukrainian ground forces in the ongoing war against Russia’s invasion. An estimated 150 Bradleys were believed to be in Ukraine as of September 2022, providing a huge boost in mobility and firepower compared to Ukraine’s aging Soviet-era armor.
With their powerful cannons, advanced thermal sights, and rapid-fire TOW anti-tank missiles, the Bradleys have helped Ukrainian troops take on modern Russian tanks like the T-90 on a more equal footing. Their armor provides protection for occupants against small arms, artillery fragments, and landmines, while their fast tracks allow them to exploit breakthroughs and rapidly reposition.
According to military experts, the destruction of the T-90 also highlights issues with Russian tank doctrine, which emphasizes mobility and firepower over heavy armor. Lighter armor leaves modern Russian tanks more vulnerable to enemy anti-tank weapons. The T-90’s experienced crew may also have been replaced by hastily trained conscripts, affecting performance in combat.
The Bradley IFV videos emerge as Russia continues suffering massive losses in both equipment and personnel. Per US intelligence reports, around 300,000 Russian troops have been killed or wounded since the invasion began in February 2022 – far higher than Russia’s official counts. Despite Putin’s declaration of a “partial mobilization,” Russia is still struggling to find trained and motivated tank crews.
In response to Russia’s aggression, the United States and its NATO allies have ramped up sophisticated arms supplies to aid Ukraine’s defense. In addition to the Bradleys, Germany has provided high-tech Leopard 2 tanks which could prove decisive on the battlefield. The UK also recently pledged another $2.5 billion in military aid for Kyiv, with Prime Minister Sunak declaring that “Ukraine will never be alone.
The new Western armor deliveries come as Putin has threatened to withdraw Russia from the Cold War-era Fisheries Agreement, potentially blocking UK fishing boats from the resource-rich Barents Sea between Norway and Russia. The Russian leader may be attempting to retaliate against the West’s support for Ukraine. Meanwhile, a top Russian military official has chillingly warned that civilians could face conscription in preparation for a potential larger conflict with NATO.
According to NATO Military Committee Chairman Admiral Rob Bauer, the alliance is actively planning for the contingency of a full-scale war against Russia. Bauer stated bluntly that in the present environment, “anything can happen at any time.” As the war in Ukraine continues with no end in sight, the latest battlefield footage is a sobering reminder of the lethal technology now being unleashed, and the high stakes if the conflict should spiral into a wider conflagration.
