Ukrainian soldier 'takes out five Russian tanks and three armoured vehicles in ... trends now
A lone Ukrainian soldier took out five Russian tanks in a day using US-provided Javelin missiles, Ukraine's Ministry of Defense says.
The decisive encounter occurred during a Russian attack on Ukraine's 79th Air Assault Brigade near the town of Marinka, in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region.
According to the military authority, the paratrooper took out five tanks in addition to three infantry fighting vehicles known as BMPs, Business Insider reports.
The video appeared to show the strikes on the tanks, with several explosions.
The US has armed Ukraine with some 8,500 Javelin missiles since the outbreak of the Russian invasion last February.
A lone Ukrainian soldier took out five Russian tanks in a day using US-provided Javelin missiles, Ukraine's Ministry of Defense says
According to the military authority, the paratrooper took out five tanks in addition to three infantry fighting vehicles known as BMPs
The Javelin missiles, best described as a powerful shoulder-borne anti-tank weapon, have become a key part of the country's defence
Ukraine's defense ministry posted: 'American weapon in Ukrainian hands works wonders.'
The footage did not make clear precisely when the strikes took place, but it emerged amid reports of Russians trying to advance around Marinka in an effort to control the region.
Marina has suffered repeat attacks by Russian forces and is now in a ruinous state.
Russian news provider Readovka insisted the invading forces has solidified their positions south of Marinka and made no mention of losses.
Ukraine's claims have yet to be independently verified, but the footage posted today shows two distinct hill formations that resemble those seen around Marinka.
Footage showed the aftermath of one of the Javelin strikes, which blew up a Russian armoured vehicle
The attacks could be a further blow to Russia's already under-equipped military. A report in the Economist claims Russia's demand for tanks is outstripping its supply by a factor of 10.
The Economist added its sole factory could only make 20 tanks at a time, while 150 tanks are being lost each month according to open-source intelligence paltform Oryx.
Ukraine yesterday said the situation around the besieged city of Bakhmut is 'extremely tense' as Vladimir Putin's forces stepped up their assault to encircle Ukrainian troops.
Russia is trying to cut supply lines to the city, the scene of some of the war's toughest fighting, and force them to surrender or withdraw.
This would give Putin his first major victory in more than half a year and open the way to the capture of the last remaining urban centres in the Donetsk region.
'Despite significant losses, the enemy threw in the most prepared assault units of Wagner [mercenary group], who are trying to break through the defences of our troops and surround the city,' Ukraine's Colonel general Oleksandr Syrskyi said on a military messaging platform.
Ukraine's military previously said Russia had strengthened its forces in the Bakhmut area and was shelling settlements around the city.
Ukrainian servicemen are seen near an automatic grenade launcher at their positions, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, in the front line city of Bakhmut, in Donetsk region, Ukraine
A Ukrainian serviceman walks an empty street, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, in the front line city of Bakhmut, in Donetsk region, Ukraine, on February 25
Ukrainian service members are seen next to an infantry fighting vehicle near the frontline town of Bakhmut, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Donetsk region, Ukraine
This video grab taken from a video released by the 93rd Separate Mechanized Brigade 'Kholodnyi Yar' shows an aerial view of fightings and destructions in the city of Bakhmut on February 26
'Over the past day, our soldiers repelled more than 60 enemy attacks,' it said earlier today, adding that Ukrainian forces repelled attacks on the villages of Yadhidne and Berkhivka, to the north of the city.
Ukrainian military analyst Oleh Zhdanov said Russian forces had driven a wedge between those villages as they tried to cut the road west to Chasiv Yar.
'The southern part of Bakhmut is the only area which can be described as under Ukrainian control. In all other districts, the situation is unpredictable,' he said in a video
