President Volodymyr Zelensky has confirmed that American Abrams tanks have already arrived in Ukraine. Preparations are currently underway to reinforce brigades with these tanks.
Source: Volodymyr Zelensky.
Abrams tanks are already in Ukraine
Good news from (Ukraine’s Minister of Defense — ed.) Umerov. ‘Abrams’ are already in Ukraine and are getting ready to reinforce our brigades. Grateful to our allies for fulfilling agreements! We are looking for new contracts and expanding the geography of supplies,’ wrote Zelensky after the daily meeting.
What is known about the transfer of Abrams tanks to Ukraine?
On January 25th, U.S. President Joe Biden announced that the United States would transfer its Abrams tanks to Ukraine by the end of this year. In July, it became known that Ukrainian military personnel began training on American tanks at a base in Germany. Recently, a Pentagon representative stated that the tanks would be delivered to Ukraine in the coming days and weeks.
On September 25th, The New York Times, citing two officials from the U.S. Department of Defense, reported that the first batch arrived in Ukraine on September 23rd, but they did not specify the exact quantity. Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Kirilo Budanov had previously indicated that Ukraine would use the Abrams tanks cautiously and only for well-planned operations. Specifically, they would be used for evacuation purposes or for the rapid transportation of infantry units to a certain location, but they would not be involved in combat operations.
“Because if they are used on the frontline and in regular general military combat, they won’t survive for very long. They need to be used in breakthrough operations, but ones that are very well prepared,” Budanov explained.