The delivery of 31 M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine by fall brings one of America’s most powerful weapons closer to the war. However, even with the quicker than expected delivery, it is unlikely that the tanks will reach the battlefield in time for the anticipated Ukrainian counteroffensive. Western allies have fallen short of providing the weapons that U.S. military officials believe Kyiv needs.
Leaked classified military assessments of the war show that U.S. military planners believe that 253 tanks are needed for the coming counteroffensive. As of late February, only 200 had been committed, and of those, 60 were made by Western manufacturers – the kind of sophisticated weaponry that Ukraine has requested.
The documents, from late February and early March, offer a snapshot in time of preparations for the counteroffensive. More weapons and artillery have flowed into Ukraine in the weeks since the assessments were dated….
2023-04-21 08:20:29
Post from www.nytimes.com