Deadly UK £4.2m tank blown up in Ukraine after it was called death machine

The first of the UK's deadly Challenger 2 tanks sent to Ukraine to be used against Vladimir Putin's invading forces has been destroyed.

The £4.2million beast was labelled a “death machine” by industry experts just hours before it was later seen in a fiery ball of flames on the battlefield.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak promised to send the tanks to Ukraine in January.

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According to the Ministry of Defence, the tanks are the UK's main battle tanks, built to destroy other tanks.

However, the first one used in battle has already been destroyed by Russia.

A video of the tank in tatters was shared on the Wagner-affiliated Grey Zone Telegram group.

They said: “(This is) the first documented destroyed British Challenger-2 tank in service with the Ukrainian Armed Forces, namely the 82nd Separate Air Assault Brigade.

“Also in these frames from near Rabotino you can see a destroyed Ukrainian T-64BV tank and two Kozak-7 armoured vehicles.”

Rabotino is actually a small village in the Vologda Oblast in Russia, which means that Ukraine has been sending British-made tanks directly into Russian territory.

The destruction happened just hours after Ukraine's MoD posted a video on X/Twitter praising the machines.

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A Ukrainian solider was heard saying: “I'll tell you that this tank is like a sniper rifle among tanks, among all tanks in general.

"It undoubtedly set a world record when it hit a T-55 [main battle tank] from a distance of more than five kilometres.

"Its advantage is that it has a long range, it is very precise; it's a machine designed to operate at a long distance and target only machinery.

"With these tanks, anyone who sees them is like, 'wow, what is this?'

“If used correctly, it will be just… bring death and horror for them, that’s all.”

No comment has been made by the UK's MoD on the destruction of the tank, of which only around 250 exist.

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