Video shows ‘Ukrainian tank’ blown up by Russian helicopter was a tractor

The video was shown extensively by Russian state-controlled broadcasters and news sites, which said it was recorded from the thermal imaging system of a KA-52 Alligator attack helicopter.

In this image from video, released by the Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on June 6, 2023, shows what Russia claimed was the destruction of a German-made Leopard tank. But a visual analysis by The Associated Press shows the grainy black-and-white video Russia released prove it had blown up the tanks actually documented the destruction of a tractor. Two experts, who watched the Russian video, both said the vehicle struck by the helicopter’s missile was not a Leopard tank, or any other type of armored vehicle. Valentin Châtelet, a research associate at The Atlantic Council’s Digital Forensic Research Lab, also said the objects in the video were clearly not Leopard tanks.(Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP)

A grainy black-and-white gunsight video Russia released this week to bolster a claim its military blew up some of Ukraine’s most fearsome tanks actually showed the destruction of a tractor, according to analysis by the Associated Press.

The Russian Embassy in Washington announced on Monday that its forces had “annihilated” eight German-made Leopard tanks, among the most advanced and powerful weapons Nato countries have provided to Ukraine.