Russia Releases Video of Captured German and US Military Vehicles in Ukraine

Russia’s Defense Ministry has unveiled video footage purportedly showing German-made Leopard tanks and US-made Bradley Fighting Vehicles captured from Ukrainian forces. The video, released on Tuesday via the ministry's official Telegram channel, depicts what the Russian military claims are significant spoils of war from recent clashes on the frontlines in southern Ukraine.

The footage, which could not be independently verified by Reuters, reportedly showcases two Leopard tanks and two damaged Bradley Fighting Vehicles. The Russian Defense Ministry described these captured assets as “our trophies,” highlighting them as symbols of their battlefield successes.

According to the ministry, the footage was filmed on the Zaporizhzhia front, an area where Ukrainian forces have been actively engaging in counteroffensive operations. The video features Russian soldiers from the Vostok military grouping inspecting the vehicles, some of which reportedly still had their engines running—a detail the ministry suggested indicated the rapid retreat of Ukrainian crews.

The Ukrainian military has not yet commented on the footage. However, reports from Ukraine indicate that Ukrainian forces have recently made significant gains, recapturing several villages from Russian control along a 100km stretch in southeastern Ukraine since the beginning of their counteroffensive last week.

Unconfirmed updates from Russian military bloggers suggest that there may have been some territorial reversals by Russian troops, potentially countering recent Ukrainian advances.

As the conflict continues to evolve, both sides remain engaged in a high-stakes battle for strategic positions, with the dynamics of the frontlines shifting rapidly. The release of such footage underscores the ongoing information warfare component of the conflict, with both sides keen to demonstrate their successes and undermine the morale of the opposing force.