The United States is set to begin training Ukrainian forces on how to operate M1A1 Abrams tanks starting next month, in a move to provide more support for Ukraine in its ongoing conflict with Russia. According to a US official, the tanks will be sent to Grafenwoehr, Germany, by mid-May, where around 250 Ukrainian troops will undergo a 10-week training course with US soldiers.
The US is providing 31 tanks in total, which is equivalent to one Ukrainian tank battalion. While the tanks are a much-awaited capability for Ukraine, their impact on the battlefield won't be immediate due to the timeline for training and significant logistical demands to keep the tanks up and running.
Ukraine will also be receiving Leopard 2 tanks from Germany and Challengers from the UK. However, retired Army Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling cautioned against the idea of just providing tanks, noting that making this work on the battlefield requires careful choreography.
As of now, around 8,800 Ukrainian troops have already completed combined arms training in Germany and returned to Ukraine, with approximately 2,250 troops currently undergoing training. The US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin also met with allied officials in Germany, where he emphasized that the US and its allies will continue to provide security assistance to Ukraine, having provided more than $55 billion to date.
In another development, Germany, Poland, and Ukraine signed an agreement on Friday to set up a hub in Poland to repair Leopard 2 battle tanks. According to Germany’s Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, the hub will be operational by the end of May, and all parties have agreed on financing arrangements.