Wednesday 18 May 2022 02:13 AM Drone footage shows the moment British Brimstone missiles blow up pair of ... trends now
Ukraine armed forces appear to have used British-made Brimstone missiles to destroy Russian tanks deep behind enemy lines.
Drone footage shared by a Ukrainian combat instructor, shows two missiles strike military vehicles in quick succession, sending debris flying into the air.
The weapon has been adapted to be fired from small vehicles on the Ukrainian battlefield rather than used from warplanes, drones of naval ships - as designed.
In the footage shared by Pavlo Kashchuk yesterday, two missiles were fired from a tractor before two struck a convoy of military vehicles believed to be in the Donbas region.
Pavlo wrote: 'They say the Orcs are in a little panic. Tanks get their turrets torn down even in the rear.
'There are already rumours about new ghost planes from NATO, but wait, it’s just good old Brimstones in the skilful hands of operators of the Special Operations Forces and a little bit of military trickery.'
Pictured: Drone footage captured the moment Ukraine forces used British-made Brimstone missiles to destroy two Russian tanks almost simultaneously deep behind enemy lines
It is believed this is the first time the missiles have been fired from the ground in live combat, with earlier footage showing Ukraine forces training with the hi-tech weapons.
The operation was reportedly carried out by special forces who had been trained to use the newly designed weapon.
The £175,000 Brimstone came into service in 2005, with an updated version supplied to the RAF six years ago.
As a 'fire and forget' missile, it strikes its target after being launched - without further intervention - using laser-seeking guidance or autonomous targeting.
Pictured: After launching the missiles from a tractor, footage shows the explosives strike two Russian tanks within seconds of each other, sending smoke and debris flying up into the air
Pictured: A yellow circle highlights debris flying into the air after the tanks were destroyed
The weapon is being used by the United Kingdom's RAF, a well as the air forces of Germany and Saudi Arabia. Qatar is also set to use the weapon in the future.
Like several western nations, the UK has supplied Ukraine with military support since President Putin launched his invasion on February 24.
In recent days, the UK confirmed £1.3billion in extra military funding towards Ukraine's defensive operations, on top of the existing £1.5 billion of support already given - which included humanitarian and military aid.
Britain has supplied Ukraine with armoured vehicles, anti-tanks missiles, air defence systems and munitions - along with helmets, body armour and night vision goggles.
Pictured: Large explosions are seen in a field during test launches of the Brimstone missile
Ukrainian armed forces have utilised hand-held anti-tank missile launchers, as well as other modern equipment such as drones, to great effect, punching well above their weight against a Russian army that is the fifth largest in the world.
Despite many commentators expecting Ukraine's forces to be overrun in the early days of the invasion, Kyiv's soldiers have been able to destroy thousands of Russian military vehicles. Moscow has lost an estimated 27,000 soldiers.
Modern equipment has allowed Ukraine's soldiers to be more manoeuvrable than their Russian foes, who have been caught out using Soviet-era tactics. Several videos have shown scores of Russian vehicles being destroyed in ambushes.
In one examples last week, Russia suffered a double battlefield humiliation when Ukraine successfully thwarted its attempt to cross a river in Donbas, destroying dozens of vehicles and inflicting heavy casualties.
In an attempt to then rescue men and vehicles that were then stranded on the wrong side of the Donets River, near Biolhorivka - after the first attempt on May 8 - Russian forces launched a second effort to cross the river. The results were much the same.
It appears Russian commanders were attempting to surround Lysychansk - and its sister city of Severodonetsk - with the crossing, but saw their
