{"id":5999,"date":"2023-04-21T17:15:12","date_gmt":"2023-04-21T17:15:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/londonpost.news\/?p=5999"},"modified":"2023-04-21T18:09:20","modified_gmt":"2023-04-21T18:09:20","slug":"us-begins-training-ukrainian-army-with-abrams-tanks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/brusselsindependent.com\/be\/brusselsindependent\/us-begins-training-ukrainian-army-with-abrams-tanks\/2023\/04\/21\/admin1\/","title":{"rendered":"US Begins Training Ukrainian Army With Abrams Tanks"},"content":{"rendered":"

GERMANY<\/span> (AFP)<\/span> –<\/span> The<\/span> U.S.<\/span> will<\/span> begin<\/span> training<\/span> Ukrainian<\/span> forces<\/span> in<\/span> using and maintaining\u00a0Abrams<\/span> tanks<\/span> in<\/span> the<\/span> coming<\/span> weeks<\/span> to<\/span> further<\/span> accelerate<\/span> efforts<\/span> to<\/span> bring<\/span> them<\/span> to<\/span> the<\/span> battlefield<\/span> as<\/span> soon<\/span> as<\/span> possible,<\/span> the<\/span> U.S said.<\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>The<\/span> decision<\/span> will<\/span> come<\/span> as<\/span> defense<\/span> leaders<\/span> across<\/span> Europe<\/span> and<\/span> around<\/span> the<\/span> world<\/span> gather<\/span> at<\/span> Ramstein<\/span> Air<\/span> Base<\/span> to<\/span> coordinate<\/span> the<\/span> delivery<\/span> of<\/span> weapons<\/span> and<\/span> other<\/span> equipment<\/span> to<\/span> Ukraine.<\/span> An<\/span> announcement<\/span> is<\/span> expected<\/span> later.<\/span><\/p>\n

Officials<\/span> say<\/span> 31<\/span> tanks<\/span> will<\/span> arrive<\/span> at<\/span> his<\/span> Grafenwoehr<\/span> Training<\/span> Area<\/span> in<\/span> Germany<\/span> at<\/span> the<\/span> end<\/span> of<\/span> May<\/span> and<\/span> the<\/span> army<\/span> will<\/span> begin<\/span> training<\/span> in<\/span> the<\/span> coming<\/span> weeks.<\/span> Officials<\/span> said<\/span> the<\/span> unit’s<\/span> training<\/span> will<\/span> last<\/span> about<\/span> 10<\/span> weeks.<\/span> The<\/span> training<\/span> tanks<\/span> were<\/span> not<\/span> handed<\/span> over<\/span> to<\/span> Ukraine<\/span> for<\/span> use<\/span> in<\/span> the<\/span> war<\/span> with<\/span> Russia.<\/span> Instead,<\/span> 31<\/span> of<\/span> his<\/span> M1A1<\/span> main<\/span> battle<\/span> tanks<\/span> are<\/span> being<\/span> refurbished<\/span> in<\/span> the<\/span> US<\/span> and<\/span> ready<\/span> to<\/span> go<\/span> to<\/span> the<\/span> front<\/span> lines.<\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>Its<\/span> purpose<\/span> was<\/span> to<\/span> train<\/span> the<\/span> converted<\/span> tanks<\/span> to<\/span> completion<\/span> so<\/span> that<\/span> the<\/span> troops<\/span> could<\/span> immediately<\/span> join<\/span> the<\/span> battle.<\/span> The<\/span> tank<\/span> will<\/span> be<\/span> modified<\/span> for<\/span> Ukrainian<\/span> needs.<\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>About<\/span> 250<\/span> Ukrainian<\/span> troops<\/span> are<\/span> being<\/span> trained,<\/span> some<\/span> learning<\/span> to<\/span> operate<\/span> tanks<\/span> and<\/span> others<\/span> learning<\/span> to<\/span> repair<\/span> and<\/span> maintain<\/span> tanks,<\/span> officials<\/span> said.<\/span> After<\/span> the<\/span> first<\/span> 10<\/span> weeks,<\/span> additional<\/span> training<\/span> in<\/span> tank<\/span> combat<\/span> and<\/span> piloting<\/span> may<\/span> also<\/span> be<\/span> provided.<\/span> The<\/span> officials,<\/span> who<\/span> spoke<\/span> on<\/span> condition<\/span> of<\/span> anonymity,<\/span> did<\/span> not<\/span> provide<\/span> further<\/span> details.<\/span><\/p>\n

So<\/span> far,<\/span> the<\/span> United<\/span> States<\/span> has<\/span> already<\/span> trained<\/span> 8,800<\/span> Ukrainian<\/span> troops<\/span> who<\/span> have<\/span> returned<\/span> to<\/span> the<\/span> battlefield,<\/span> and<\/span> about<\/span> 2,500<\/span> more<\/span> are<\/span> currently<\/span> in<\/span> training.<\/span> Their<\/span> training<\/span> included<\/span> everything<\/span> from<\/span> basic<\/span> weapons<\/span> training<\/span> to<\/span> conducting<\/span> combat<\/span> operations<\/span> to<\/span> equipment<\/span> maintenance<\/span> and<\/span> repair.<\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>The<\/span> Joe<\/span> Biden<\/span> administration<\/span> announced<\/span> in<\/span> January<\/span> that<\/span> it<\/span> would<\/span> send<\/span> Abrams<\/span> tanks<\/span> to<\/span> Ukraine.<\/span> For<\/span> months<\/span> it<\/span> has<\/span> argued<\/span> that<\/span> the<\/span> tank<\/span> is<\/span> too<\/span> complex<\/span> to<\/span> maintain<\/span> and<\/span> repair.The<\/span> decision<\/span> comes<\/span> as<\/span> Germany<\/span> announces<\/span> that<\/span> it<\/span> will<\/span> send<\/span> Leopard<\/span> 2<\/span> tanks<\/span> to<\/span> Ukraine,<\/span> while<\/span> Poland<\/span> and<\/span> other<\/span> allies<\/span> will<\/span> do<\/span> the<\/span> same.<\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>Under<\/span> heavy<\/span> pressure<\/span> from<\/span> Ukraine<\/span> and<\/span> others<\/span> to<\/span> get<\/span> tanks<\/span> to<\/span> Ukraine<\/span> sooner,<\/span> the<\/span> Biden<\/span> administration<\/span> announced<\/span> last<\/span> month<\/span> that<\/span> it<\/span> would<\/span> expedite<\/span> deliveries<\/span> of<\/span> Abrams<\/span> tanks<\/span> to<\/span> Ukraine,<\/span> replacing<\/span> older<\/span> models<\/span> refurbished<\/span> to<\/span> run<\/span> faster.<\/span> chose<\/span> to<\/span> send.<\/span> The<\/span> goal<\/span> is<\/span> to<\/span> bring<\/span> a<\/span> 70-ton<\/span> combat<\/span> power<\/span> pack<\/span> to<\/span> the<\/span> battlefield<\/span> by<\/span> the<\/span> fall.<\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>The<\/span> U.S.<\/span> also<\/span> revealed<\/span> that<\/span> it<\/span> would<\/span> begin<\/span> training<\/span> Ukrainian<\/span> forces<\/span> on<\/span> how<\/span> to<\/span> use,<\/span> maintain<\/span> and<\/span> repair<\/span> tanks,<\/span> and<\/span> that<\/span> the<\/span> instructions<\/span> would<\/span> coincide<\/span> with<\/span> tank<\/span> overhauls<\/span> so<\/span> that<\/span> both<\/span> would<\/span> later<\/span> be<\/span> combat-ready<\/span> at<\/span> the<\/span> same<\/span> time.<\/span>\u00a0
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>At<\/span> the<\/span> same<\/span> time,<\/span> the<\/span> Pentagon<\/span> must<\/span> ensure<\/span> a<\/span> proper<\/span> supply<\/span> chain<\/span> of<\/span> all<\/span> the<\/span> parts<\/span> the<\/span> Ukrainian<\/span> military<\/span> needs<\/span> to<\/span> keep<\/span> its<\/span> tanks<\/span> operational.<\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>Russian<\/span> and<\/span> Ukrainian<\/span> forces<\/span> were<\/span> largely<\/span> in<\/span> a<\/span> stalemate,<\/span> trading<\/span> small<\/span> lands<\/span> over<\/span> the<\/span> winter.<\/span> The<\/span> fiercest<\/span> fighting<\/span> took<\/span> place<\/span> in<\/span> the<\/span> eastern<\/span> Donetsk<\/span> region,<\/span> where<\/span> Russia<\/span> struggles<\/span> to<\/span> besiege<\/span> the<\/span> city<\/span> of<\/span> Bakhmut<\/span> in<\/span> the<\/span> face<\/span> of<\/span> stubborn<\/span> Ukrainian<\/span> defenses.<\/span> However,<\/span> both<\/span> sides<\/span> are<\/span> expected<\/span> to<\/span> launch<\/span> an<\/span> even<\/span> more<\/span> intense<\/span> offensive<\/span> in<\/span> the<\/span> spring.<\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>Britain’s<\/span> Defense<\/span> Ministry<\/span> said<\/span> Friday<\/span> in<\/span> its<\/span> daily<\/span> military<\/span> assessment<\/span> of<\/span> the<\/span> war<\/span> that<\/span> soft<\/span> ground<\/span> conditions<\/span> and<\/span> mud<\/span> across<\/span> much<\/span> of<\/span> Ukraine<\/span> are<\/span> likely<\/span> to<\/span> slow<\/span> both<\/span> sides’<\/span> operations<\/span> in<\/span> the<\/span> conflict.<\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>In<\/span> another<\/span> deployment,<\/span> Ukrainian<\/span> Air<\/span> Force<\/span> commander-in-chief<\/span> Mykola<\/span> Oleshuk<\/span> said<\/span> Friday<\/span> he<\/span> visited<\/span> a<\/span> US-made<\/span> Patriot<\/span> missile<\/span> system<\/span> that<\/span> was<\/span> used<\/span> on<\/span> the<\/span> battlefield<\/span> after<\/span> its<\/span> recent<\/span> delivery.<\/span> Ukrainian<\/span> officials<\/span> announced<\/span> that<\/span> the<\/span> Patriots<\/span> had<\/span> arrived.<\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>The<\/span> Ukrainian<\/span> military<\/span> said<\/span> on<\/span> Friday<\/span> that<\/span> Russia<\/span> had<\/span> attacked<\/span> Ukraine<\/span> overnight<\/span> using<\/span> Iranian-made<\/span> Shahed<\/span> suicide<\/span> drones.<\/span> Russia<\/span> launched<\/span> about<\/span> 10<\/span> drones<\/span> at<\/span> Ukrainian<\/span> targets,<\/span> eight<\/span> of<\/span> which<\/span> were<\/span> shot<\/span> down<\/span> by<\/span> Ukrainian<\/span> air<\/span> defense<\/span> systems,<\/span> the<\/span> Ukrainian<\/span> General<\/span> Staff<\/span> said.<\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>The<\/span> Ukrainian<\/span> president’s<\/span> office<\/span> reported<\/span> Friday<\/span> morning<\/span> that<\/span> at<\/span> least<\/span> six<\/span> of<\/span> her<\/span> civilians<\/span> were<\/span> killed<\/span> and<\/span> six<\/span> wounded<\/span> in<\/span> the<\/span> last<\/span> 24<\/span> hours<\/span> in<\/span> Ukraine.<\/span> Russian<\/span> artillery<\/span> and<\/span> rocket<\/span> attacks<\/span> mainly<\/span> targeted<\/span> towns<\/span> and<\/span> villages<\/span> in<\/span> the<\/span> contested<\/span> and<\/span> partially<\/span> occupied<\/span> Donetsk,<\/span> Zaporizhia<\/span> and<\/span> Kherson<\/span> regions,<\/span> according<\/span> to<\/span> Ukrainian<\/span> officials.<\/span> Outside<\/span> of<\/span> these<\/span> areas,<\/span> Russian<\/span> forces<\/span> also<\/span> launched<\/span> a<\/span> mortar<\/span> strike<\/span> in<\/span> Chernihiv<\/span> province<\/span> on<\/span> Thursday.<\/span> Russia<\/span> launched<\/span> drones<\/span> overnight,<\/span> attacking<\/span> the<\/span> Kiev,<\/span> Poltava<\/span> and<\/span> Vinnitsa<\/span> regions.<\/span><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

GERMANY (AFP) – The U.S. will begin training Ukrainian forces in using and maintaining\u00a0Abrams tanks in the coming weeks to further accelerate efforts to bring them to the battlefield as soon as possible, the U.S said. The decision will come as defense leaders across Europe and around the world gather at Ramstein Air Base to […]<\/p>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":6000,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":""},"categories":[1,24,26,276,2480,2482],"tags":[4178,4179,3331,3335,4169,4170,4171,4172,4173,4174,4175,4176,4177],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/brusselsindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/ik.webp","amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/brusselsindependent.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5999"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/brusselsindependent.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/brusselsindependent.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brusselsindependent.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brusselsindependent.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5999"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/brusselsindependent.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5999\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6013,"href":"https:\/\/brusselsindependent.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5999\/revisions\/6013"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brusselsindependent.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6000"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/brusselsindependent.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5999"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brusselsindependent.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5999"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brusselsindependent.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5999"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}