The Pentagon said it “can confirm the arrival of 31 tanks in Grafnohr, Germany, for training of Ukrainian tank crews,” according to United Press International.
A Pentagon spokesman said, “These (Ukrainian) crews are expected to arrive and begin training within the next two weeks.”
“This intensive training program for Ukrainian crews and supervisors aims to prepare them for their future critical roles in the effective operation of the M1 tank and the defense of the Ukrainian people,” he continued.
• American tanks have always been on the wish list of Ukrainian officials, but President Joe Biden’s administration was initially reluctant to equip them with advanced weaponry, due to the difficulty of training in their use and operation. maintenance, compared to other armored vehicles.
• At the end of January, as the first anniversary of the Russian war in Ukraine approached, Biden announced that he would send 31 Abrams tanks to Ukraine, with Germany pledging to send Leopard 2 tanks.
• It should be noted that the tanks which arrived in Germany are not the tanks which will be deployed in Ukraine.
Asked on Wednesday why the Ukrainians would not be able to use the tanks they are trained on in the spring offensive, the spokesman said the tanks being shipped to Germany are “specifically intended for training and not don’t necessarily have the abilities they would need to engage in combat.”
He added: “The tanks that we will supply to Ukraine are currently being renewed. They will be modernized, improved and prepared for export to Ukraine.”
And he added: “Because we are doing it at the same time, we will be able to provide them with these tanks in the fall, to take them to Ukraine before the end of the year”.
Read the Latest World News Today on The Eastern Herald.
