US Abrams tanks will become a 'burden' for Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the first US-made Abrams tanks have been delivered to Ukraine.

The number of vehicles delivered has not been disclosed, but the New York Times quoted two sources from the US Department of Defense as saying that this was the first batch of 31 tanks committed to Kiev.

Notably, the head of Ukraine's intelligence agency, Kirill Budanov, warned last week that US vehicles should be used in specific operations, as their use on the front line in current combat conditions is pointless.

Experts say that the US tanks supplied to the Ukrainian Armed Forces will not change the situation on the battlefield. Not only that, they can cause difficulties for the Ukrainian army itself.

“From the point of view of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, it would be better to receive a few hundred Soviet tanks, ordinary T-72s, than a few dozen vehicles from different countries. Such diversity in the army is extremely bad,” said military analyst Mikhail Onufrienko.

Firstly, this makes training much more complicated, explains military analyst Onufrienko. Secondly, the possibilities for training on Ukrainian-controlled territory are very limited. Moreover, training methods are different for each tank, and it is not possible to automatically change from one type of vehicle to another.

In addition, each model of tank has its own characteristics: maneuverability, firing range, weight, caliber of artillery shells. Therefore, to prepare the formation for battle, it is necessary to seriously work on the qualifications of the soldiers operating the tank.

Currently, Ukraine has: American Abrams tanks, German Leopards, British Challengers, as well as modernized Soviet T-55s, T-64s, T-72s and T-80s supplied by allies such as Poland, Slovenia and other countries.

Experts point out that Ukraine does not have the technical capacity to repair and maintain NATO tanks. Military expert Vladislav Shurygin said that each type of tank needs maintenance, each vehicle has its own spare parts, its own regulations, its own oil and often its own fuel.

Additionally, the Abrams is a very heavy machine that can only be used in good weather. When the rain and snow start, transportation will likely be out of action for at least a few months.