According to the Ukrainian Defence Minister

First US Abrams tanks arrive in Ukraine, announces Zelenski

PHOTO/ARTUR WIDAK/NurPhoto/NurPhoto via AFP - US soldiers of the 2nd Battalion, 70th Armoured Regiment, 1st Infantry Division train with M1A2 Abrams tanks at Nowa Deba, in Nowa Deba, Poland, 12 April 2023

AFP

25 de septiembre de 2023 (16:19 h.)

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced Monday the arrival of the first US Abrams tanks in his country, with which his army hopes to reinvigorate a slow-moving counteroffensive against Russian troops.

"Good news from (Defence Minister Rustem) Umerov. The Abrams are already in Ukraine and are preparing to reinforce our brigades,'" Zelenski said in a statement on social media.

The delivery of these tanks was announced last week by US President Joe Biden on the occasion of a visit to the White House by Zelenski seeking additional support in the midst of a Ukrainian counteroffensive to liberate Russian-occupied territories.

The US has promised Ukraine 31 Abrams tanks, equipped with 120 mm depleted uranium ammunition.

These munitions can pierce armour, but are also controversial because of the toxic risks to the military and its population.