First Abrams tanks are likely to arrive in Ukraine in the fall – Politico

The first American Abrams tanks are likely to arrive on the battlefield in Ukraine in September this year, Politico reports, citing informed sources.

According to the publication, the US plans to send several Abrams to Germany in August, where the tanks will undergo final modifications. After this process is complete, the tanks will be sent to Ukraine in September.

"The potential August and September deliveries mark the most specific time frame provided for when America's main battle tank is expected to roll onto the battlefield. Pentagon officials have previously said the Abrams would be in Ukrainian hands sometime in the fall," Politico reports.

The first batch of Abrams will include six to eight tanks, a defense industry official and a congressional aide told Politico. In total, the US plans to send 31 tanks, which is equal to one Ukrainian battalion.

"We're definitely working to get them to Ukraine as fast as we can," said Pentagon spokesperson Col. Martin O'Donnell, declining to discuss specifics on the timeline.

According to one of Politico's sources, the first tank refurbishment has already been done. Still, it is currently unclear whether the United States will have time to complete all the necessary work by the end of August.

Before the Ukrainian military can start operating the tanks, they must complete approximately ten weeks of training at the Grafenwehr army base in Germany. According to a Pentagon official, the Ukrainians plan to complete this exercise in August.

According to Politico, the Abrams tanks possess strong armor and formidable weapons that could provide an advantage for Ukrainian forces in the heavily contested south and east regions. Ukraine has recently launched a new offensive, aiming to retake territory by sending reinforcements to the Zaporizhzhia region. If successful, this offensive could open a path for Ukrainian forces to advance towards the city of Melitopol near the Sea of Azov while also disrupting the land bridge between Russia and Russian-occupied Crimea.

However, Russian forces have spent months fortifying their positions along the frontline, making it challenging to dislodge them. The Ukrainian military faces a disadvantage in the lack of modern fighter planes for air support, leaving ground troops vulnerable to Russian helicopter attacks, as well as precise mortar and artillery fire.