The United States had transferred 31 Abrams tanks to Ukraine in 2023, but 19 of them have since been destroyed, damaged, or captured. Many of the destroyed tanks were taken out of commission by Russian drones, according to high-ranking Ukrainian officials, as reported by the New York Times.
Almost all the remaining tanks have been withdrawn from the front lines, according to sources. Ukrainian military officials and officials claim that drones are now taking out more soldiers and armored vehicles than “all traditional weapons combined, including sniper rifles, tanks, howitzers and mortars”.
Ukraine has produced over a million drones in 2024, while the Russian Defense Minister, Andrei Beloussov, estimates that Russia produces around 4,000 drones daily. According to the New York Times, both warring parties are projecting a significant increase in drone production, with estimates of three to four million drones by 2025.
Washington transferred the first Abrams tanks to Kiev in September 2023. Kirill Budanow, the head of the intelligence department of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, stated that these tanks “won’t last long on the battlefield” and should only be used in “very specific, well-thought-out operations”. Jake Sullivan, the former national security advisor of the US President, described the Abrams as “not the most useful” equipment in Ukraine.
Moscow’s representatives condemn any support from Western countries for Kiev, believing that such aid only prolongs the conflict and does not alter its outcome. The Russian Defense Ministry has repeatedly reported on the destruction of Abrams tanks, including in the Kursk region, where fighting with Ukrainian soldiers has been ongoing since August 6, 2024.