Ukrainian soldiers are not particularly happy with the $10 million U.S. Abrams tanks, which were originally described as a “wonder weapon,” much like Germany’s Leopard tanks, which now litter the battlefield. Although the Abrams is known for its massive size and thick armor, the Ukrainians complain that it still does not offer adequate protection on the frontline.
Notably, the Abrams tanks the Ukrainians received do not have the most advanced armor protection available to U.S. forces, which makes them more vulnerable to Russian weapons.
Drones pose the most pressing threat on the battlefield, and U.S. Abrams tanks do not offer enough protection against these modern weapons, said Ukrainian soldiers fighting on the front during an interview with CNN.
U.S. President Joe Biden has sent 31 of the legendary tanks to Ukraine worth tens of millions of dollars. They are expected to help turn the tide of the Russian-Ukrainian war, but soldiers fighting on the frontline in eastern Ukraine say it has not lived up to their hopes.
They say the tanks’ defenses are so weak that they are trying to improve them with DIY solutions.
Within two months of service, the Ukrainian army has lost 5 of the 31 Abrams it received, the Ukrainian news portal The New Voice of Ukraine points out. Technical problems are constant, and the Ukrainians are not satisfied with the tank’s weapons system. It is said that there have been occasions when shells fired at a building have simply failed to explode.
However, according to retired CNN military analyst Lieutenant General Mark Hertling, the Ukrainians’ complaint is “nonsense.” Their problems are instead probably caused by inadequate training and maintenance skills.
According to Hertling, it was a mistake to send Abrams to Ukraine in the first place because of their complicated maintenance requirements.
Russians have published a number of videos of destroyed Abrams tanks in recent months, but despite these losses, the tank is still expected to present a formidable threat to Russian forces.
