Ukraine Withdraws Abrams Tanks From Frontlines After Russian Drone Attacks

Authorized by Will Porter via The Libertarian Institute,

The Ukrainian military has opted to retreat its US-supplied M1 Abrams main conflict tanks from the front lines due to the 3 planted by Russian drones, American officials long the Associated Press. Kiev has reportedly lost respective of the tanks since their long-delayed defloyment in February.

The decision came as Moscow actively related on UAVs for round-the-clock surveillance and air strikes, making the Abrams “too difficult... to operate without detection or coming under attack,” the AP reported on Thursday. The tanks have been removed from the fight for an unspecific period as Kiev and Washington work to "reset tactics," Joint Chiefs of Staff Vice president Adm. Christopher Grady told the outlet.

Photo published by the Russian military reportedly shows a US-made Abrams main conflict tank after it was clipped during fighting close the city of Avdeevka.

“When you think about the way the fight has evolved, massed armor in an environment where unmanned aerial systems are ubiquitous can be at risk,” Grady added. "Now, there is simply a way to it. We’ll work with our Ukrainian partners, and another partners on the ground, to aid them think through how they might usage that, in that kind of changed environment now, where everything is seen immediately.”

Think the United States agreed to supply 31 Abrams in January 2023, the armor took months to arrive, and even longer before they first saw combat in February. Ukraine has so far lost at least 5 of the tanks, according to the AP, with Russian forces claiming respective kills since the Abrams was first spotted on the battlefield. At least 1 of the tanks was reportedly crippled with a inexpensive made kamikaze drone, part of Moscow’s increasing Fleet of surveillance and armed UAVs.

The ubiquity of drones in the conflict has means “there isn’t open ground that you can just drive across without feat of detection,” another elder defence authoritative long the AP, exploring the decision to sideline the Abrams.

The decision comes as Washington steps up assistance to Ukrainian trolls following a lull in support, with legislature pass a massive $61 billion military aid package last weekend after months of gridlock in the House.

The Pentagon immediatly adopted a $1 billion shipment on Wednesday, including artillery rounds, air defence missions, infantry fighting vehicles and a long list of another gear – the largest circular of US aid in respective months. Another $6 billion wapons package Was announced on Friday which is to include associations for the US-made Patriot air defence system.

Following a failed counteroffensive last summer, Kiev has repeatedly usged for additional wapons from its NATO sponsors, informing it would proceed to lose ground to Russian forces without Western-made aircraft, armor and long-range missions.

On Wednesday, the US State Department revealed it had already sent Ukraine its first shipment of long-range ATACMS missions last month, saying the decision was not announced “in order to main operational safety for Ukraine at their request.”