Ukrainian Challenger 2 purportedly hit by drone during counter-offensive in Kursk

Ukraine is using British-supplied Challenger 2 tanks in its counter-offensive inside Russia, with pro-Moscow video claiming to have already destroyed one of the vehicles.

While this claim is unconfirmed, footage posted on Telegram shows what appears to be a Challenger 2 tank on the outskirts of some woodland.

The drone appears to be flying head-on at the tank, which has its turret turned to the right.   

• On the frontline in Ukraine with the crews operating the UK-supplied Challenger 2
• Ukrainian Challenger 2 crew reveal how British-supplied main battle tank saves lives
• Russia claims drone has hit and destroyed British-supplied Challenger 2 tank

While the quality of the video from the drone isn't great, as it looks as though the drone is being jammed, it does seem to show a thermal sight at the rear of the main gun – a big identifying feature of the Challenger 2.

This sight on the Challenger is referred to by BAE Systems, the tank's manufacturer, as the thermal imaging system.

Donated in January 2023, the Challenger 2 tanks have been used by Ukrainian forces before in Kursk, as well as in Zaporizhzhia.

Earlier this year, Forces News reporters Simon Newton and Hannah King met Ukrainian personnel operating the main battle tank.

They visited the 82nd Air Assault Brigade, one of Ukraine's elite units and one of those that punched across the border into Kursk last August. 

The 82nd operates the Challenger tanks and BFBS Forces News met Artem, one of the crew of a Challenger 2 tank that was hit during the first days of the Kursk offensive. 

Oleksandr, one of the Challenger commanders, told BFBS Forces News the tank operates well in dry conditions, but "struggles to move around" in the mud.

"It's heavy and I think that if the tracks were a bit different, if they didn't have pads, it would be a bit easier. Not by a lot, but it would help," he said.

Some of the personnel operating the tanks were trained by the British Army, including 34-year-old Stepan, one of the loaders, who said he had "huge respect" for his British Army instructors. 

"We got in, and after sitting in a Soviet T-80 it's like a two-room apartment. We were like 'Wow, how much space!'," he said.

"Training in England was great. The instructors were excellent and in a short time they made tankies out of us.

"Bearing in mind that training usually takes a long time. To train as a loader, like me, it normally takes two years. But we learned it all in two months."