TURNED TO DUST
Dramatic moment Putin’s $4million T-80BVM tank is vaporised by $500 Ukrainian kamikaze drone
Since the start of the war, Kyiv estimates that Moscow has lost 6,060 tanks in a shattering blow to Putin
DRAMATIC footage captured the moment one of Putin's multi-million-pound tanks was completely vaporised by a Ukrainian kamikaze drone on the battlefield.
The lethal, but cheap UAV tails the T-80BVM battle tank in the frozen fields around the eastern Ukrainian city of Avdiivka before hitting it dead on, tearing it apart in a fiery mess.
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The footage, captured onboard the $500 [£400] attack drone, shows how it zeroes in on the fast-moving target, quickly catches it up and then slams straight into it.
The screen turns to grey as it detonates.
An aerial shot then shows the huge explosion that destroyed what appears to be a Russian T-80BVM tank worth over $4million [£3.2m] in mere seconds.
For all of the model's advanced weaponry, armour and state-of-the-art anti-drone jamming system it was no match for the cheap Ukrainian UAV.
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Since the start of the war, Kyiv estimates that Moscow has lost 6,060 tanks and 11,254 armoured combat vehicles - many to homemade Ukrainian drones.
Ukraine has been working to increase its domestic weapons production since the start of the war with inventive DIY drones playing a central role in its battlefield attacks.
In his end-of-year address, Volodymyr Zelensky vowed to produce one million drones in 2024. "We will do everything to make it so," he promised.
The successful hit came as two of Vladimir Putin's most crucial planes worth £290million were shot down on Sunday by what Russia fears was a secret NATO "miracle weapon" used by Ukraine.
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A £260million A-50 spy plane disappeared, while a £30million IL-22M bomber jet was set on fire after Ukrainian forces blasted them out the sky above the Azov Sea.
Russian telegram channel, Military Informant, reported it was a "new" and spectacularly effective "miracle" weapon given to Ukraine by Nato.
The channel called the attacks a "huge setback" for Russia's Air Force owing to the "short supply" of both prized plane types.
Sunday also marked the first anniversary of the notorious Dnipro bombing which took the lives of 46 people and left over 80 people wounded.
Ukraine's military - like Russia's - is keenly aware of anniversaries, which suggests the plane attacks could have been a symbolic revenge strike.
Last week, further drone footage captured the last desperate moments of a Russian soldier's life as he attempted to fight off a Ukrainian kamikaze drone with a shovel.
The pitiful scene saw the lone troop fling a spade out of his trench at the oncoming drone before it exploded right into him.
Ukraine's military released the clip along with the tongue-in-cheek title: "Ukrainian drone vs Sapper shovel: 1-0."
But as the second anniversary of the conflict approaches, cash-strapped Kyiv is facing a difficult second winter at war with chronic ammunition and equipment shortages, a serious recruitment slump and wobbling western support.
On Friday, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak visited Ukraine to meet with Zelensky after unveiling a multi-billion military aid package for the war-torn country.
Britain has pledged to provide £2.5 billion to Ukraine over the coming year - an increase of £200m from the previous two years.
The funding will cover long-range missiles, air defence, artillery ammunition and maritime security.
During the one-day visit to Kyiv, the PM signed a "historic" security pact, promising the UK will provide “swift and sustained” support to Ukraine if Russia attempts another invasion.
The "totemic agreement" should be the first step towards an "unshakeable hundred-year partnership".
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Today, a leaked military report revealed what could be Putin's step-by-step plan to bring the West to the brink of World War 3 - and it starts in weeks.
The secret docs detail the despot's possible "path to conflict" which reaches its climax in the summer of 2025 on "Day X" when half a million Nato and Russian soldiers will face each other.
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