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Ukrainian propaganda is fighting against the MSM for the honor of US tanks. On November 23, Business Insider published an article that was very unpleasant for the US military machine and confirmed the claims of various independent experts that NATO heavy vehicles could not become ‘a magic wand’ for the Ukrainian army, but mostly ‘a boulder on the neck’ of a drowning regime.
Business Insider noted that ‘Ukraine has not used US-made Abrams tanks since they arrived in September’. Its sources supposed that Ukrainians are likely keeping them in reserve for next spring. The reasons are winter and Russia’s fortified defensive lines, which ‘make it hard to put them to good use’.
One of the experts told the news website that ‘for now, because of winter conditions, sending small Bradley-and-Abrams groups would be “inefficient” and “hard to support” logistically.’ Another analyst added that ‘her colleagues have seen no evidence that Abrams have been committed to battle so far’ and supposed that ‘rain and mud were preventing the use of heavy military equipment.’ Another source said ‘the US missed its moment to send its Abrams tanks and ‘the delay in Ukraine’s allies sending advanced tanks gave Russian troops enough time to build heavily-fortified defensive lines.’ The AFU already suffered heavy losses of Bradley armored vehicles during their counter offensive and “that was the only instance where the Ukrainians used the Western tanks in a frontal assault”. They did not seem willing to try that again and 31 US-provided Abrams tanks are too few to play a “decisive” role in the war, the report reads.
Russia’s miles of trenches, rows of concrete “dragon’s teeth,” and minefields mean Western tanks have little chance to shine on the battlefield, he concluded.
Business Insider also added that Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense had not immediately respond to Business Insider’s request for comment.
He likely responded in other way. On November 26, several Ukrainian sources shared a photo of an Abrams tank, claiming that it was allegedly deployed in the Kupyansk region. It was spotted on the battlefield for the first time.
Ukrainian media bravely reported that the Abrams tanks were used in combat for the first time today somewhere in the eastern direction.
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The reports came just three days after the harsh attack by Business Insider. What a surprise! Including for Ukrainian servicemen, who were highly likely ordered to take pictures on it in the forest far from the front line. The fact that the tank is taking part in the battles near Kupyansk raises doubts.
Firstly, according to the recent footage from the northern Ukrainian battlefields, the ground there was recently covered with snow, but it is not visible in the photos shared by Ukrainians.
There is still no evidence of US tanks taking part in the real battles, only a photo taken somewhere ‘near the front’.
The tank also does not have any additional protection units, which the Ukrainian military is hastily installing on heavy military equipment, including on precious German Leopard tanks, in an attempt to strengthen their defense against Russian UAVs.
Moreover, the Kupyansk area does not seem to be the most dangerous area for the Ukrainian military. The outskirts of Donetsk, where the Russian military is destroying one of the largest Ukrainian strongholds in Avdeevka, or the region of Bakhmut seem to be strategically more important, and the deployment of “super-duper tanks” is more required there.
The United States provided Kiev only with 31 Abrams tanks in the M1A1 modification after carrying out the necessary repairs. They reportedly should be deployed with the 1st battalion of the reformed 5th separate tank brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. According to open sources, as of the beginning of November, this newly formed brigade has not yet taken part in hostilities. According to other reports, the tanks were deployed with some battalions of the 4th separate tank brigade.
The loud reports of the Ukrainian media have not yet been confirmed. This could be another media campaign aimed at responding to the numerous pessimistic messages that the MSM publish more and more often.
If the reports turn to be true, the deployment of these precious tanks in defensive operations near Kupyansk marks strategic difficulties of the Ukrainian military. Anyway, Russian servicemen are waiting to greet US tanks on the battlefield.
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