Footage Confirms Russian Forces Taking Out Another U.S.-Supplied M1A1 Abrams Tank in Ukraine

Footage released on August 11 has confirmed a successful strike on a Ukrainian Army M1A1 Abrams main battle tank in the Pokrovsk direction, which despite significant anti-drone countermeasures including a protective overhead cage, was neutralised after a single direct hit by an unmanned vehicle. Ukraine has lost over one third of the 31 Abrams tanks delivered by the United States, with the first loss confirmed on February 26 three days after the vehicles were first seen deployed in combat. The large majority of recorded kills have been achieved by drone strikes or using precision guided artillery, with both asset types able to penetrate the vehicle from its vulnerable top and rear armour. Although tank-on-tank engagements have been relatively rare in Ukraine, at least one kill was achieved by a Russian T-72B3 tank after the two exchanged fire in the first week of March. This T-72 variant forms the backbone of the Russian Army’s armoured units, and deploys the 2A46M-5 main gun developed in the early 2000s.

After heavy losses of multiple further vehicles in February and March, the Ukrainian Army in late April to withdraw its remaining Abrams tanks from frontline positions due to concerns regarding their vulnerability. Rapid losses among the long awaited vehicles reportedly had a serious detrimental effect on morale, and significant were subsequently made to further increase their armour protection levels. Losses have nevertheless remained high, with some of the most recent including kills confirmed on July 30, on July 3, and previously in early May, all of which saw the vehicles captured on video being destroyed by guided artillery. A report from CNN on May 29 highlighted dissatisfaction among Ukrainian personnel with the tanks’ performance, citing both technical issues, including vulnerability of electronic components to condensation, as well as their vulnerability to Russian fire. The Abrams’ performance has been far from isolated, with Ukraine’s German supplied Leopard 1 and Leopard 2 tanks, including the most capable variant the Leopard 2A6, having taken extreme losses and performed underwhelmingly despite initial expectations that they could facilitate major frontline breakthroughs. Ukrainian personnel have also widely expressed dissatisfaction with American Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, which of approximately 200 delivered to Ukraine, saw over 80 lost in combat within five months from mid-2023.