to have “destroyed” a “US-made Stryker combat vehicle” on the 5th of July, although like most combatant claims in the war, the truth of this is unclear.
Nevertheless, the claimed destruction of four Stryker AFVs comes as Russia, through its online operations, released a video purporting to be of a UAV detonating an explosive on one of the vehicles this week.‘The Warzone’ suggests the video is the first combat footage of the Stryker yet seen from Ukraine and shows a loitering munition, observed by a second Russian drone, making contact with the vehicle.
The publication, citing their own sources, says it is unclear whether the hit was a kill, given the video cuts immediately after detonation.and, compared to other Western armour like the U.S.-made Bradleys and the German-made Leopard 2 main battle tanks, has been comparatively little seen on the battlefield until now. Developing from the initial pledge of 90, nearly 200 Strykers have now been promised to Ukraine by the United States.
The exact cost of this support is unclear, but the cash price for the General Dynamics-built Stryker plus support package for other U.S. allies buying the system rather than receiving it as a gift appears to average out at two or three million dollars per unit in recent years’ deals.