Ukrainian Leopard 2 tanks are short of spare parts.

Ukraine not only faces the risk of its Leopard 2 tanks being destroyed in combat, but also encounters difficulties in repairing and restoring them due to a lack of spare parts.

According to recent estimates by Oryx, a Dutch-based open intelligence tracking site, the Ukrainian army has lost at least 12 of the first 71 Leopard 2 main battle tanks it received from the West. However, battlefield losses are not the main reason Ukraine is struggling to maintain the combat readiness of its Leopard 2s.

Many Leopard 2s were only damaged, not completely destroyed, after being hit by Russian drones or mines. Typically, they would be towed to the rear, repaired, and returned to the battlefield.

However, Ukraine is facing significant difficulties in repairing damaged Leopard 2 tanks and returning them to the front lines due to a shortage of spare parts. This has resulted in dozens of relatively intact Leopard 2 tanks being grounded pending repairs.

A damaged Ukrainian Leopard 2 tank in a forest on January 19. Photo: NTV — A damaged Ukrainian Leopard 2 tank in a forest on January 19. Photo: *NTV*

During a visit to a repair shop for Leopard 2A6 and Strv 122 tanks, a variant based on the Leopard 2A5, in Lithuania in early January, German Green Party politician Sebastian Schafer admitted that "Ukraine can only use a small number of the main battle tanks that have been delivered."

"The repair process took a very long time because the workshop in Lithuania lacked suitable replacement parts," Schafer said. "In addition, Ukrainian mechanics attempting to repair the Leopard 2 tanks themselves caused further damage."

Schafer suggested preventing this situation by training more skilled mechanics for Ukraine, providing guidance, or assessing whether certain repairs can be performed in the country.

"Due to the need for spare parts and the desire to repair them themselves, Ukrainian soldiers tend to 'dismantle' the most severely damaged Leopard 2 tanks before transporting them to Lithuania or Poland," said Major General Christian Freuding, head of the Ukrainian section of the German Ministry of Defence .

This forced workers at Leopard 2 repair shops in various countries to both repair battlefield damage and replace parts that Ukrainian soldiers had removed. "These centers not only repaired but also rebuilt the entire tank," General Freuding said.

Some German officials believe that, in addition to damage or losses in combat, many of Ukraine's Leopard 2 tanks have suffered significant technical wear and tear due to the skills of their drivers and gunners.

The moment a Russian guided missile took down a Leopard 2 tank. — Russian guided missiles strike Ukrainian Leopard 2 tanks on January 2nd. Video : *Russian Ministry of Defence*

With a more abundant supply of spare parts at repair centers and on the front lines, Ukrainian soldiers will have less need to dismantle damaged Leopard 2 tanks for use on their remaining vehicles. This helps shorten the Leopard 2 repair process from several months to just a few weeks.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian military commanders decided to transfer all remaining Leopard 2A6 tanks in service with the 47th Mechanized Brigade to the 21st Mechanized Brigade, which already operates a number of Strv 122 tanks, in order to simplify logistics.

Forbes editor David Axe argues that to address the long-term shortage of spare parts for Ukraine's Leopard 2 tanks, the German defense industry must significantly increase and sustain the production of these components over an extended period.

Nguyen Tien (Based on Forbes, Spiegel, AFP, Reuters )

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