U.S. delivers all promised M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine

17 October, 2023 M1A2 Abrams tanks of the US military.

2016. Photo credits: U.S. Army Europe

All 31 M1 Abrams tanks promised by the United States have arrived in Ukraine. VOA News reported on this. Col.

Martin O'Donnell, a spokesman for U.S. Army Europe and Africa, told VOA that all of the Ukrainians who trained on the tanks with U.S. forces in Germany have also returned to Ukraine, along with ammunition and spare tank parts. "We have lived up to our end of the bargain.

From this point forward, it is up to them to determine when and where they will deliver this capability," O'Donnell said. The U.S. military officials say it could take time before the Abrams are sent to the battlefield, as Ukrainian forces make sure they have needed support elements in place.

M1 Abrams tank. Photo credits: US Army.

In addition, the Ukrainian military must determine when and where to use tanks to achieve the greatest effect against the Russian invasion forces.

"I think Ukraine will be deliberate in when and where they use it. The Abrams tank is one hell of an armored vehicle, but it's not a silver bullet. Ultimately, it's Ukraine's determination to break through that matters most," O'Donnell said.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky announced the arrival of the first batch of Abrams tanks on September 25. At the end of May, 200 Ukrainian soldiers began training on M1 Abrams tanks at a U.S. military base in Germany. The training program includes not only the instruction of crews to operate tanks but also the exercise for maintenance personnel of these combat vehicles.

In early August, the United States officially approved the transfer of the first batch of Abrams tanks to Ukraine. The main training course for crews and technical personnel on these tanks was completed in August.

M1A1 SA Abrams tanks of the US Army for training of Ukrainians in Germany, May 23. Photo credits: 7th Army Training Command.

It was originally planned that the funds of the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative would be used to transfer American tanks to Ukraine to purchase new equipment from the manufacturer.

Then it was decided to withdraw the equipment from the U.S. Army's stockpile. Tanks will be refurbished and refitted before shipping.

The United States also included depleted uranium rounds in the military aid package for Ukraine announced on September 6.