(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) – The arrival of US-made Abrams tanks in Ukraine has sparked excitement among Russian military personnel, who have expressed their determination to aggressively pursue and engage them in combat.
Russian military members interviewed by the country defense media expressed their enthusiasm to embark on a mission to “hunt down” Abrams tanks, similar to their actions against Leopard and Challenger tanks made by Germany and Britain.
One of the Russian tank battalion commanders, Captain Sambu Khutakov, mentioned that the information about the presence of 31 M1A1 Abrams tanks in Ukraine has generated excitement among Russian military members.
Sambu is considered a war hero in Russia and has been awarded several military bravery medals.
“Russian tank crews stationed in Rabotino are preparing themselves to begin the mission of hunting down the American-made Abrams tanks,” said Khutakov.
He has been in the special military operations zone in Ukraine since the beginning of the year, having previously served in Syria and Nagorno-Karabakh.
During the summer of this year, Khutakov and his team successfully repelled a counterattack by Ukrainian military forces, leading the Russian government to award them several medals for bravery.
According to him, Russian military members are paying special attention to all Western military equipment and systems currently in Ukraine.
“You can’t imagine how thrilled our tank crews are to become the first Russian tank crew to destroy or capture Leopard, Bradley (IFV), or possibly Abrams tanks,” he said.
“We are all eagerly awaiting them (Western tanks).”
Khutakov mentioned that his team’s spirits are high as they prepare to face Abrams tanks. Recently, the Ukrainian military confirmed the presence of all 31 Abrams tanks donated by the United States in Ukraine.
However, Kiev did not specify when these Abrams tanks would be deployed to the front lines to participate in the conflict between Ukraine and Russia.
Yet, as soon as the tanks arrived in Ukraine, Ukrainian military officials warned that the 70-ton American-made Abrams tanks might not “last long” in the battlefield.
Furthermore, the Abrams tanks supplied to Ukraine are of the M1A1 variant, which is considered “aged” and lacks “depleted uranium” armor and capabilities compared to the latest M1A2 variant.
As demonstrated in Iraq, the M1A1 Abrams tanks can be vulnerable to basic and outdated anti-tank weapons.
Lt. Gen. Kirill Budanov, Chief of the Ukrainian Army Intelligence Directorate, suggested that the utility of the Abrams tanks would be limited on the battlefield if they were deployed haphazardly.
Instead, Budanov recommended using the Abrams tanks in well-planned and highly precise operations aimed at breaking through enemy defenses.
He also noted that the practicality of the Abrams tanks is limited due to the extensive use of artillery and rocket fire by Russian forces in the conflict.
“Russian artillery and rocket fire have reduced the potential use of armored assets in all areas of the battlefield to a minimum,” stated the highest-ranking intelligence officer in the Ukrainian military.
US and Western military officials have high hopes for the ability of Abrams tanks to help Ukraine breach Russian military defenses in the current counteroffensive.
However, the fate that befell Western tanks like Leopard 1 and Challenger 2 in the hands of Russian forces recently raises concerns among US military officials that Abrams tanks may face a similar fate.
Bradley IFVs (Infantry Fighting Vehicles) supplied by the United States to Ukraine have also suffered losses in combat, with analysts stating that around 80 Bradley IFVs have been destroyed by Russian forces so far. — DSA
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