M2 Bradley shifts Kursk tides with a bold church charge
During a battle in the Kursk region, amidst a charge by the Ukrainian M2 Bradley, Russian soldiers and war correspondents, seeing no alternative for survival, took refuge in the basement of a nearby church. The M2 Bradley is among the most valuable NATO vehicles supplied to Ukraine by the United States and has demonstrated its effectiveness, even on Russian territory.
According to Forbes analyst David Axe, the church's vicinity in Pogrebki became the scene of one of the most significant battles in the Kursk region. This occurred in early January 2025. Clashes between Ukrainian and Russian forces lasted nearly the entire day and involved, among others, the aforementioned M2 Bradley, likely belonging to the Ukrainian 47th Mechanized Brigade.
Bold charge by M2 Bradley
"Ukrainian armed forces' infantry is trying to take out our fighters," reported a Russian blogger on Telegram.
On multiple occasions, the 47th Mechanized Brigade has gained renown for its activities in the Kursk region. It is reputed to be very well-trained and armed with older and newer Western heavy equipment. Recordings have emerged showing that they use vehicles like the M2 Bradley and Abrams tanks on Russian soil.
In the battle near the church in Pogrebki, the climactic moment was the appearance of the M2 Bradley, whose crew charged the Russians. David Axe reports that the main gun used in this infantry fighting vehicle was the M242 Bushmaster automatic cannon, with a 25 mm calibre.
M2 Bradley serving the Ukrainians
The range of this weapon is about 2 kilometres, but its rate of fire, reaching 200 rounds per minute, is also significant. Additionally, the M2 Bradley crew have a 7.62 mm calibre machine gun and a dual launcher for TOW anti-tank missiles, capable of engaging enemy armoured equipment at a distance of up to about 4 kilometres.
The M2 Bradley is reputed for being a vehicle that saves Ukrainian lives. This is due to its superior armour, which protects the crew and encourages bold offensive operations. There have been successful engagements by the M2 Bradley against transporters and IFVs and even against Russian tanks, including the top-tier T-90M Proryv.
