Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Monday that American Abrams tanks have arrived to strengthen Kiev’s forces in the counter-offensive against Russian forces.
“Good news from Defense Minister (Rustem) Umerov. Abrams is already in Ukraine and preparing to strengthen our brigades,” Zelensky said in a statement on social media.
Daily sync on major security issues.
Interior Minister Klymenko’s report on dealing with the aftermath of the Russian shelling of Odesa and other cities and towns. Help the affected people. Protecting the Odesa region is a priority in all my air transport negotiations…
– Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) September 25, 2023
Zelensky did not indicate how many tanks arrived in the country nor when they would be sent to the front lines.
Washington pledged to deliver 31 Abrams tanks to Kiev early this year, part of the more than $43 billion in security assistance the US had pledged over the past 18 months.
U.S. officials said the tanks would be paired with 120mm armor-piercing depleted uranium shells.
The decision to supply Abrams tanks to Ukraine marked a reversal as US defense officials had repeatedly said they were unsuitable for Kiev’s armed forces due to their complexity.
Source: DN
