The armored vehicles promised to Ukraine could allow it to launch a new offensive
In Ukraine, the front line hardly moves – and only at the cost of many lives. A situation that kyiv’s allies want to remedy by providing it with the armor necessary for a new counter-offensive. Faced with the strengthening of Russian defenses, Ukraine welcomed these promises of delivery of equipment, while urging its supporters to follow the example of the United Kingdom by providing it with heavy tanks of Western construction.
Russian troops “bury themselves, they dig trenches, place dragon’s teeth [des défenses antichars], lay mines. They’re really trying to fortify that frontline.”, explained this week to the press the number three of the Pentagon, Colin Kahl. The aim is to enable Ukraine “to change this dynamic of static defenses by giving it the ability to fire and maneuver through the use of more mechanized forces”.
Read also: After nine months of war in Ukraine, Russian forces are on the defensive
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US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Friday that Washington expects a counter-offensive from Ukraine in the spring. The United States and other countries have recently assured that they will give the country a large number of armored vehicles, which could play an important role in possible advances. Washington on Thursday promised to provide 90 Stryker armored personnel carriers and 59 Bradley light armored vehicles, after already announcing the delivery of another 50 Bradleys a week earlier.
Germany has promised 40 Marder tanks; France, AMX-10 RC light combat tanks. The UK granted kyiv’s requests for heavy tanks, agreeing to send 14 Challenger tanks.
These vehicles could give the Ukrainian army “a large armored strike force” able to allow him “to try to lead an offensive (…) similar [à celle] which was carried out in Kharkiv last autumn »estimated Gian Gentile, a former American officer, currently a historian with the RAND Corporation think tank, close to the American Department of Defense.
The role that different armor plays varies on the battlefield: heavy tanks can lead the charge and possibly take fire from other tanks, while armored personnel carriers are better able to drop off infantry to take possession of a city.
For Mark Cancian, analyst of the American think tank CSIS (Center for Strategic and International Studies), it would take many tanks to make a real difference. But the addition of several deliveries of lesser caliber could still, according to him, have a significant impact.