Ukrainian Armed Forces to start training on Abrams tanks soon - Pentagon

Soldiers of the Ukrainian Armed Forces will soon begin training on American M1 Abrams tanks. The US Department of Defence is currently completing the purchase of the necessary equipment for training the Ukrainian military.

In total, the United States plans to provide Ukraine with more than 30 Abrams tanks. This was stated by a Pentagon spokesman, CNN reports.

The US Defence Ministry official noted that training of Ukrainians on US M1 Abrams tanks has not yet begun, but will begin "relatively soon". The senior defence official added that the purchase of the equipment needed for the training is being finalised.

"Abrams training has not yet begun... We are still working on the procurement of equipment, so we have not started training yet, but I expect it to happen relatively soon," the official said during a briefing.

The Pentagon reminded that more than 7,000 Ukrainian servicemen have already undergone training in the United States since the beginning of the Russian invasion. As for the Abrams tanks, the United States plans to provide Ukraine with 31 units, the size of a tank battalion.

It is worth noting that the US agreed to send the tanks in January this year after suddenly abandoning its stated policy that the Abrams were too difficult to maintain for Ukrainian forces in the midst of the war. After that, Ukraine's other allies began to announce their willingness to provide tanks.

Recall that the administration of US President Joe Biden will accelerate the delivery of US M1 Abrams battle tanks to Ukraine by 9 months. The Ukrainian army is expected to receive them by autumn.

Earlier it was reported that Ukraine had started receiving modern Western tanks, including German Leopard, British Challenger and American Abrams, as well as upgraded Soviet versions of the T-72. Some have already been delivered to the country, others will arrive in late spring, and some will have to wait until at least autumn 2023.

As OBOZREVATEL previously reported, Western weapons donated by partners and needed by the Armed Forces for the upcoming counter-offensive continue to arrive in Ukraine. Military expert Nico Lange predicts that "Day X" for Putin's army will come in May.

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