(AmericanProsperity.com) – According to a New York Times September 25 report, the first batch of US M1 Abrams tanks arrived in Ukraine on September 23. The liberal newspaper pointed out that American and Ukrainian officials confirmed that the tanks are ready and fully capable of being deployed in the battlefield as soon as possible and help Ukraine’s troops in support operations. The report also noted that these M1 Abrams will be mostly used to break through Russian lines on Ukraine’s counteroffensive operations.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, two US defense officials told the New York Times that the number of tanks delivered to Ukraine was not the total amount that US President Joe Biden promised Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky. However, both said that the remainder of the 31 tanks will arrive over the next few months.
Different reports pointed out that while officials initially thought that it would take years to get the Abrams tanks to Ukraine, the Biden administration changed the way they deliver these tanks to speed up the transfer. However, this hasn’t been enough to send the total amount of tanks that was promised on this first batch.
In a Twitter statement, Zelensky confirmed that the M1 Abrams arrived in Ukraine and are being “prepared” to reinforce the Ukrainian troops on the frontline. During an interview with the military blog The War Zone, the head of the Ukrainian military intelligence Kyrylo Budanov said that the Ukrainian troops will have to use these tanks in a “very tailored way” He explained that they will have to deploy the M1 Abrams in well-crafted and “very specific” operations in the counteroffensive to gain the expected results. Otherwise, he said that the tanks could be destroyed by the Russian armed forces in less than expected.
Over the last few months, Zelensky and other Ukrainian officials have said that the country needs at least 300 Western tanks to gain more victories in counteroffensive operations. However, the New York Times revealed that Kyiv has so far received less than 200.
Copyright 2023, AmericanProsperity.com
