British Challenger 2 tanks reportedly used by Ukraine in Kursk offensive
4:07 PM EDT, August 15, 2024
Did the Challenger 2 tanks manufactured in the United Kingdom appear in the Kursk region? According to Sky News, relying on their own sources, the Ukrainian army used the British machines during an offensive on Russian territory.
On Thursday, Sky News, citing its sources, revealed that during an offensive operation in the Kursk region, the Ukrainian armed forces are using Challenger 2 tanks supplied by the United Kingdom. This is the first time that British tanks are being used on Russian territory.
Sky News did not obtain information about the number of Challenger 2 tanks involved or the extent of their use. However, it was highlighted that they were handed over to the 82nd Air Assault Brigade, which is most likely participating in the offensive.
The station asked the Ukrainian side and the UK Ministry of Defense for comment but did not receive a clear answer. The UK government reiterated its previously expressed position on Ukraine's use of British-origin weapons for attacks inside Russia.
The Ukrainians used British tanks in the offensive on the Kursk region
A Ministry of Defense spokesperson emphasized that "there has been no change in the UK government's policy – according to Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, Ukraine has a clear right to self-defense against illegal Russian attacks, which does not exclude operations inside Russia."
At the beginning of 2023, the United Kingdom pledged to deliver 14 Challenger 2 tanks to Ukraine, which led to similar gestures from Germany and the United States. Last year, one of these tanks was destroyed in combat, the first instance of losing a Challenger 2 tank on the battlefield.
On August 6, a large group of Ukrainian armed forces entered the Kursk region, surprising even Ukraine's Western allies. They currently control an area of about 390 square miles, marking the first incident since World War II of a foreign army occupying a part of Russian territory.
