The war in Ukraine has had a devastating impact on Russia’s tank forces.
Some have even suggested that tanks are the new ‘battleship’ of the 21st century – as in hopelessly obsolete.
And videos emerging from Ukraine being shared on social media just might make that case more valid:
Watch Javelin Take Out Russian T-64BV Tank – Video footage shared online a few months ago shows how Ukrainian forces continue to use Britain’s Javelin surface-to-air missile, one of the first advanced missiles sent by the West upon the outbreak of the war, to destroy Russian tanks and military vehicles.
The footage not only shows the damage the missiles can do but also demonstrates how easy they are for a single soldier to operate.
What We Know
In the clip, which was shared on Telegram, Twitter, and other social media channels, a lone Ukrainian soldier can be seen perched on a hill and aiming the Javelin launcher.
The launcher is held over the shoulder and can be operated by just one man.
As the Javelin missile launches, it achieves horizontal momentum thanks to the force generated by the launcher.
Once the missile is in the air, its onboard propulsion system kicks in, and it then quickly flies into the air and begins seeking its target.
The clip shows a Russian T-64BV tank hidden in the woods, reportedly somewhere near Avdiivka in Donetsk Oblast.
The Javelin missile appears to cause substantial damage to the tank, though the operator continues to attempt to move the vehicle even after it was struck. Eventually, the tank ceases to function and becomes completely engulfed in flames.
The video also appears to show a Russian MT-LB armored personnel carrier that appears to have been destroyed by the same kind of weapon.
“A Russian T-64BV tank was destroyed by the Ukrainian 36th Marine Brigade using a FGM-148 Javelin near Avdiivka, #Donetsk Oblast,” Twitter account Ukraine Weapons Tracker writes in a post that contains the video.
“A Russian MT-LB armored personnel carrier was also destroyed nearby.”
More Javelin Missiles On The Way
Over the last few months, the United States Department of Defense confirmed that more Javelin missiles are coming to Ukraine and should be continually resupplied as often as possible.
That can only mean more trouble for Putin’s tanks forces in Ukraine.
Indeed, estimates suggest that Russia has lost over half of its overall tanks forces during the war.
Putin has even had to send older tanks like the T-54 and T-55 that sport World War II technology that has been in storage for decades.
#Ukraine: A Russian T-64BV tank was destroyed by the Ukrainian 36th Marine Brigade using a FGM-148 Javelin near Avdiivka, #Donetsk Oblast.
A Russian MT-LB armored personnel carrier was also destroyed nearby. pic.twitter.com/6YSlxYwumF
— ???????? Ukraine Weapons Tracker (@UAWeapons) February 23, 2023
Jack Buckby is 19FortyFive’s Breaking News Editor. He is a British author, counter-extremism researcher, and journalist based in New York. Reporting on the U.K., Europe, and the U.S., he works to analyze and understand left-wing and right-wing radicalization, and reports on Western governments’ approaches to the pressing issues of today. His books and research papers explore these themes and propose pragmatic solutions to our increasingly polarized society.