(POKROVSK, DONETSK OBLAST) – Russian forces have deployed captured Western armoured vehicles during a mechanised assault near the city of Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine. Footage shared online confirms that the occupying military utilised a captured American Bradley Fighting Vehicle and an M113 armoured personnel carrier alongside a Russian BMP 2 during recent combat operations.
This development marks a significant shift in the tactical use of seized equipment by the forces of the Russian dictator Vladimir Putin. While Russian troops have previously captured several dozen Western manufactured vehicles, this is believed to be the first documented instance of a Bradley being used in an active frontline assault by the invaders. Ukrainian forces successfully countered the advance using tactical drones which targeted the column as it moved through the southern outskirts of the region.
The resulting engagement led to the confirmed destruction of the M113 carrier. This incident represents the first recorded case of the Ukrainian military destroying one of its own previously lost M113 vehicles while in Russian service. Despite the propaganda value of using such equipment, military analysts remain sceptical regarding the sustainability of these operations. The Russian military lacks the necessary spare parts and specialised maintenance infrastructure required to keep Western hardware operational over a long term period.
Data from the independent monitoring group Oryx indicates that Russia has captured 13 Bradley vehicles since the start of the full scale invasion. While some units are sent to Moscow for public display or to be studied by military scientists, others are being pressed into immediate service due to the high attrition rates of Russian armoured columns.
The battle for Pokrovsk has remained a focal point of the eastern front for several months. While the Russian dictator continues to pour resources into the offensive, large portions of the city and its surrounding villages remain under Ukrainian control. The reliance on captured equipment highlights the ongoing pressure on Russian supply lines and the high turnover of their own domestic armoured vehicles which frequently suffer from poor maintenance and outdated design.