(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) — The United States has supplied the Ukrainian military with 31 M1A1 Abrams tanks, yet within weeks of their deployment to the battlefield two of the main battle tanks have been destroyed by Russian forces.
Observers reported yesterday that Ukraine has lost its second M1A1 Abrams tank in the battle to defend the city of Berdychi in the Donetsk region.
As has become routine, the destruction of this second American-made M1A1 Abrams tank was documented by Russian surveillance drones.
Operated by the 47th Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Army, the 70-ton tank was reportedly hit by an anti-tank mine planted by Russian forces, rendering it inoperable.
Immediately after the mine detonation, the crew abandoned the Abrams tank in an effort to save themselves.
Damaged and immobilized by the mine blast, the Ukrainian-operated M1A1 Abrams tank was then struck by a kamikaze drone from the Russian military, leading to its complete destruction.
Last week, the first Abrams tank operated by Ukraine was confirmed destroyed, believed to be the result of an attack by a “Lancet” kamikaze drone of the Russian forces in the Avdiivka combat zone.
Reports indicate that the first Abrams tank destroyed by Russia was initially hit by a “Lancet” kamikaze drone and subsequently by a Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG).
In the same battle, another M1150 Assault Breacher Vehicle (ABV), which uses the M1A1 Abrams tank chassis, was also destroyed by Russian artillery fire.
It was the second highly-valuable M1150 ABV operated by the Ukranian forces got destroyed by Russian forces in recent weeks.
Military observers have noted that the loss of the M1150 ABV engineering vehicle is particularly lamented by the Ukrainian forces due to the very limited number of these vehicles within the Ukrainian military.
This marks the second loss of an M1150 ABV engineering vehicle within a week, following a previous loss in combat near Petrvis’ke, close to Avdiivka, Ukraine.
The engineering vehicle is crucial for the Ukrainian military, with the importance of a single M1150 ABV being equivalent to that of three or four M1A1 Abrams tanks.
“The loss of engineering vehicles is more painful for the enemy than the destruction of several tanks. This is because the Ukrainian forces lack engineering vehicles and face numerous large minefields, making the support of equipment such as the M1150 ABV engineering vehicle increasingly critical for the Ukrainian military,” according to Rybar.
Supporters of Ukraine had hoped that the arrival of the over 70-ton M1A1 Abrams tanks would provide the country’s forces with an advantage in countering Russian armored attacks.
However, Ukrainian military officials had already warned that the American-made Abrams tanks might not “last long” on the battlefield.
Moreover, the Abrams tanks supplied to Ukraine are of the older M1A1 variant, which lacks the depleted uranium armor and advanced capabilities of its more modern counterpart, the M1A2. — DSA