REUTERS/David Mdzinarishvili/File Photo
- US-provided Bradleys keep Ukrainian troops alive, but still get knocked out by Russian defenses.
- Bradley Fighting Vehicles have been useful for combat missions, The Washington Post reported.
- But Bradleys, like any other combat vehicle, can't drive over the treacherous minefields stalling Kyiv's counteroffensive.
US-provided Bradley fighting vehicles are proving to be a useful asset for Ukrainians on the battlefield. Kyiv's troops have seen the benefits of the Bradley fighting vehicles, including agile maneuverability, fire power, and strong armor.
But they're still getting snared in Russia's formidable defensive lines, with some Bradleys falling useless against land mines and heavy artillery, according to The Washington Post.
Earlier this week, a Ukrainian platoon commander in the 47th Brigade posted on Facebook praising the Bradley for protecting him and his team from heavy artillery shelling during a combat mission.
"Bradley saved our lives again," Oleh Sentsov, the commander, wrote, noting the team had only experienced wounds from shrapnel.
Bradley infantry fighting vehicles are operated by a three-person crew — a driver, commander, and gunner. They can carry six other passengers. While they've often been misidentified as tanks — a Bradley's 25mm automatic gun is much smaller than the powerful 120mm cannon on an Abrams tank, for example — a Bradley's strength lies in its balance between strong firepower and reliable transportation of troops.
They're hardly invincible. Bradleys are being ripped apart by Russia's extensive fields of landmines, the Post said. Those bombs, such as the TM-62 anti-tank blast mine, have slowed Ukraine's ongoing counteroffensive and often forced troops to travel by foot.
When Bradleys need to be repaired, the time can vary depending on how bad the mine damage is, the Post reported. Supply lines for parts or replacement vehicles can also impact how many Bradleys Ukraine is able to use at a given time.
The US agreed to give Ukraine 50 M2A2 Bradleys in January after Germany and France transferred other fighting vehicles to Kyiv's reserves. At the time, the Bradleys were the first shipment of Western-made armored vehicles to Ukraine since Russia's full scale invasion in February 2022.