Volodymyr Zelensky was keen to announce this “good news” himself. The first American Abrams tanks have arrived in Ukraine, at a time when the Ukrainian army is trying to finally break through the Russian defense lines before winter.
“Abrams are already in Ukraine and are preparing to reinforce our brigades,” the Ukrainian president said on Telegram without specifying how many of these vehicles had been supplied at this stage. He declared himself “grateful to the allies for the promises kept”.
A race against time as winter approaches
The delivery of these tanks to Kiev was announced last week by Joe Biden during a visit to the White House by Volodymyr Zelensky, in search of additional support in the midst of a counter-offensive to liberate the occupied territories. by Russia. The United States had promised a total of 31 Abrams tanks, equipped with 120 mm depleted uranium munitions capable of piercing armor.
These first tanks were mainly delivered “months in advance” compared to the initial schedule, said Monday the New York Timeswhile the Ukrainian army is engaged in a race against time as the expected slowdown in these operations approaches in the coming months due to deteriorating weather.
Bolstered by Western arms deliveries, Ukraine launched a vast counter-offensive at the beginning of June to repel Russian forces. If this operation has long come up against the lines fortified by Moscow and has so far only allowed the retaking of a few hundred km2 and a handful of devastated villages, it seems to be accelerating in recent weeks. Ukrainian forces thus claim to have managed to break through the Russian lines on the Southern Front and in the East.