Reports indicate that Russian forces have significantly degraded the fleet of M1 Abrams tanks supplied to Ukraine. According to one source, the Russian military has destroyed the majority of these tanks, leaving only a small number operational.
The United States, under then-President Joe Biden, announced the transfer of 31 M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine in January 2023. Deliveries were completed by September of that year. Since then, Russia has actively targeted these vehicles, releasing videos purportedly showing their destruction or capture. One of the captured tanks was even displayed at a military expo in Moscow.
Estimates suggest that the Russian military has destroyed a substantial number of Abrams tanks since February 2024. This leaves Ukraine with a significantly reduced number of the originally supplied tanks. These estimates align with earlier reports from other sources, which also indicated significant losses of the Abrams tanks.
In addition to the destruction of tanks, there have been reports of captured vehicles. Last week, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported the seizure of two Ukrainian Abrams tanks during an operation in the Sumy Region. Videos released by the ministry showed Russian troops recovering the tanks, which appeared to be in good condition.
The delivery of the Abrams tanks was initially met with optimism in the US media, with some hailing them as a potential "game changer" for Ukraine. However, this optimism waned as the tanks proved vulnerable on the battlefield. Ukrainian and US officials have since acknowledged the limited utility of the tanks in the conflict.
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