In a recently surfaced video on social media, a chilling sight has been revealed - a cemetery of damaged and destroyed Bradley Infantry Vehicles (IFVs) allegedly used by Ukraine during its ill-fated summer counter-offensive against Russia. The video, which was posted on Platform X, shows approximately fifteen Bradley IFVs in various states of disrepair. It is believed to have been captured from a Ukrainian army vehicle stationed behind the front line.

The footage reveals that the initial wave of Bradley IFVs, which spearheaded Ukraine's highly-anticipated counter-offensive operation against Russia in June, bore the brunt of the attacks. The vehicles, which had been supplied to Ukraine by the United States earlier this year, suffered significant damage with tracks torn apart and even missing turrets.

These Bradley IFVs, weighing 28 tons and operated by a three-person crew, were meant to carry up to ten soldiers into combat and provide support fire. However, their vulnerability was exposed during the intense breaching operations carried out by Ukraine, which involved breaking through enemy defenses, an intricate and highly dangerous military maneuver. Compounded by ineffective suppressing artillery fire and lack of air support, the Bradleys became easy targets for the Russian forces.

Reports indicate that the 47th Brigade, which saw combat for six months, has lost a staggering 31 M-2 Bradley IFVs. Out of this number, 30 have been completely destroyed, with at least one vehicle seized by the Russian troops. An additional 31 vehicles have been damaged to varying degrees.

It remains unclear what Ukraine plans to do with the damaged IFVs that now lay in a junkyard. Typically, broken Bradleys can be repaired unless they have been completely destroyed in explosions or fires. While some can be shipped to Poland for extensive repairs, others may be sent to a motor pool for emergency repairs. Those beyond repair are written off, but their spare components can be salvaged for use in repairing other vehicles.

The recent video of the damaged and destroyed Bradley IFVs comes shortly after Russian television broadcasted news segments featuring a captured Bradley, fueling concerns about advanced US technology being accessed by Russian engineers. However, military analysts have dismissed this as mere propaganda.

Despite the heavy losses suffered by the Bradley IFVs, military experts emphasize that the failures were more a result of poor tactics and underestimation of the enemy rather than deficiencies in the war machine itself. Ukrainian soldiers who fought alongside the Bradleys attest to their durability and effectiveness, highlighting instances where these vehicles outperformed Russian counterparts in one-on-one battles.

Many Ukrainian soldiers credit the Bradley IFVs with saving their lives during intense combat situations. Two troops from the 47th Brigade shared their harrowing experience, stating that the Bradleys protected them from attack drones, heavy caliber guns, and mines. They believe that if they had been using older Soviet armored personnel carriers, the outcome would have been fatal.

As Ukraine continues to assess the extent of the losses and strategize for future campaigns, it is evident that the Bradley Infantry Vehicles remain a force to be reckoned with, despite the setbacks suffered during the failed counter-offensive.