The Wagner group denies destroying the first Panther tank

A photograph purporting to show the destruction of a Leopard tank in Ukraine by Russian Wagner fighters has set the Russian web ablaze in recent days, prompting a denial by the armed group.

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Photos circulating on the internet show the Leopard tank completely destroyed, with the turret torn off after an apparent explosion.

On the web, Internet users began to publish information about the destruction of the tank by Wagner fighters. Another misinformation is circulating that the “German-Polish mercenaries” who operated the tank were killed.

However, the photos were, in fact, taken in Turkey in 2018. The tank was destroyed during a Turkish operation against the YPG’s Kurdish forces, the information confirmed by the Turkish military, which lamented the death of six soldiers, explained the fact. Checking Fact’ory Account.

Despite everything, the rumor of this first victory against a Western tank was widely circulated in Russia, and the Wagner group was directly challenged on its Telegram account.

“So far there has been no fight with leopards. As soon as we clear one, we will let you know,” Wagner boss Evgeny Prigozhin responded in an audio statement translated by TF1.

According to an official in the Donetsk Republic, which is fighting alongside Russia in Ukraine, the first Panther tanks sent by the West have been spotted near Baghmoud, the scene of fierce fighting that has monopolized attention for weeks.

“There have been reports of Leopard tanks appearing near Artemovsk (the Russian name for Buckmouth). […] No need to hype it up. It’s so muddy now, it’s hard for heavy vehicles like the Leopard to get through,” Yan Kagin said in an interview with Russia 1 on Tuesday, according to comments published by CNN.

Poland announced last week that the first Leopard tanks donated to Ukraine had arrived in the war-torn country.