Kyiv pulls back US tanks due to Russian drones

A US Abrams tank. File pic/X

Ukraine has sidelined US-provided Abrams M1A1 battle tanks for now in its fight against Russia, in part because Russian drone warfare has made it too difficult for them to operate without detection or coming under attack, US military officials said.

The US agreed to send 31 Abrams to Ukraine in January 2023, which cost about USD 10 million apiece and were vital to breach Russian lines.

But the battlefield has changed substantially since then, notably by the ubiquitous use of Russian surveillance drones and hunter-killer drones. Those weapons have made it more difficult for Ukraine to protect the tanks when they are quickly detected and hunted by Russian drones or rounds.

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