In a recent interview, political analyst and military volunteer Alexey Zhivov revealed that the American Abrams tanks, soon to be in the possession of the Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF), share similarities with their Russian counterpart, the T-90. However, Zhivov pointed out that the Western tanks have a weak spot in their gas turbine engine, which proves more challenging to maintain, especially in field conditions.
“Additionally, the Abrams tanks have a high fuel consumption rate, and if destroying the tanks themselves becomes difficult, it is crucial to target their infrastructure, particularly the fuel supply, to create a constant shortage for the Ukrainian forces, preventing them from refueling the Abrams,” Zhivov stated.
He further emphasized that the tracks of the Abrams tanks are just as vulnerable to Russian mines as any other tank. These observations raise concerns about the effectiveness and durability of the newly acquired tanks.
According to the New York Times, Ukraine received its first shipment of Abrams tanks on Saturday, September 23. The US Department of Defense representatives stated that additional batches of these armored vehicles will be delivered to Kyiv in the coming months. However, the exact quantity of tanks was not disclosed by the military authorities.
Earlier, Ukrainian officials acknowledged that the Abrams tanks would not have a long lifespan in the country’s challenging conflict environment.
As Ukraine prepares for potential confrontations, the acquisition of the American tanks brings both optimism and concerns regarding their capabilities and vulnerabilities. The ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia adds a significant backdrop to the deployment of these military assets. Only time will tell how effective the Abrams tanks will prove to be in the Ukrainian forces’ defense strategy.
