One of the Australian Bushmasters’ armored vehicles refined to support the war against Ukraine Russia allegedly destroyed.
Footage of a charred vehicle has emerged in an empty field on the border between Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine.
It is believed to be one of 20 Bushmaster vehicles that were donated by the Australian government to the Ukrainian military forces since early April.
According to the Ukraine Weapons Tracker, the wreckage is the first verified damage donated by Australia to Ukraine’s Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicle.
The wreckage of a combat vehicle in eastern Ukraine is one of 20 Bushmaster vehicles allegedly donated by the Australian government
“It was recently destroyed by the Russian military,” the organization said.
The footage sparked comments from both sides of the world.
‘Bushmaster is not important. Ukrainian soldiers inside it are important,’ tweeted one Australian.
Others urged the new prime minister, Anthony Albanese, to send more Bushmasters to Ukraine.
‘We probably have a ton of them sitting in storage that are probably taken out for a spin once a year!’ One wrote.
Australia became one of the first countries to provide combat vehicle support to Ukraine when the first convoy of 20 sophisticated Bushmaster vehicles took off Brisbane On 8 April aircraft C-17 Globemasters.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is about to enter its fourth month.
Ukraine weapons tracker claims Bushmaster was donated by Australia
The armored vehicles were painted olive green with the flag of Ukraine on all sides.
In a pledge of solidarity the words ‘United with Ukraine’ in both English Ukrainian were engraved on the vehicles.
The vehicles were fitted with radios, a global positioning system and additional bolt-on armor as well as protection against mines, artillery shrapnel and small arms fire.
Military support was the result of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s request after he addressed the federal parliament in March.
Mr. Zelensky Specially Appeals to Bushmasters During Historic Address as He Appeals Further International aid,
The first armored vehicles left for Ukraine in April from Brisbane RAAF Base Emberley
This is on top of about $120 million in military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine.
The Bushmaster, nicknamed ‘The Bushy’, is an 11-ton armored military vehicle designed to carry and deploy up to 10 soldiers on the battlefield.
The four wheel drive vehicles are built to withstand any environment and protect troops from bombing, and were widely used by the Australian Defense Force during the conflict in Afghanistan.
Footage of burns emerged just days after an Australian humanitarian worker was killed in Ukraine.
Michael O’Neill, 47, a Tasmanian father working as a truck driver helping wounded and injured Ukrainians on the frontline, died last Wednesday.
His sister posted, “He passed away while helping with humanitarian aid in Ukraine.”
‘Always looking for a reason, he went to Ukraine to drive trucks helping civilians flee the country.
’ He then assisted the wounded and the injured in driving from the front line. Unfortunately meeting a sad ending.
Combat vehicles (pictured earlier this year) have provided support to Ukraine in its ongoing war with Russia