Ukraine receives “game-changing” tanks from the US

"Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said that Abrams tanks have arrived in Ukraine and are preparing to reinforce our brigades," President Zelensky announced on September 25.

The Guardian said President Zelensky did not specify the number of Abrams tanks that had arrived in Ukraine, nor how long it would take for them to be deployed to the front line.

Ukraine nhận xe tăng “thay đổi cuộc chơi” từ Mỹ - Ảnh 1.

A US M1A1 Abrams tank was delivered to Germany in May 2023 to train Ukrainian soldiers. Photo: US Army

Washington earlier this year promised to provide 31 Abrams tanks to Ukraine, part of a security assistance package worth more than $43 billion that the US has pledged over the past 18 months.

The Abrams tank was developed by the US between 1972 and 1975. It is equipped with depleted uranium armor-piercing shells, 120mm artillery shells, 7.62mm coaxial guns and 12.7mm guns, and can reach a maximum speed of 67km/h. This is considered a weapon that can help Ukraine "change the game" in the context of the counter-offensive they launched in June not achieving the expected progress.

The decision to provide Abrams tanks to Ukraine is seen as a turning point, as US defense officials have repeatedly said they are unsuitable for Kiev's forces due to their complexity.

The New York Times reported that President Zelensky has asked allies to provide Ukraine with at least 300 Western tanks for use in the counteroffensive. One expert said that so far, Ukraine has received only about half of the tanks requested.