The Ukrainian military has once again pushed back against false claims from Russian propaganda, this time about the performance and use of American Abrams tanks on the front lines. Despite recent suggestions in some Western and Russian media that the Abrams tanks have been pulled from combat, frontline Ukrainian soldiers have confirmed otherwise. These tanks are not only in operation but are actively destroying enemy forces in ongoing engagements.
A team from Army TV visited the 47th Separate Mechanised Brigade, known as “Magura,” to witness the American M1A1 SA Abrams tanks in action. Tank commander and soldiers praised the vehicle’s impressive precision, stability, agility, and high-quality thermal imaging sights. Even with its weight of over 60 tonnes, the tank manoeuvres smoothly and strikes with deadly accuracy. Ukrainian crews report that the Abrams has successfully eliminated enemy infantry and armoured vehicles alike, including finishing off a Russian T-62 that had been previously disabled by a drone.
However, soldiers highlighted a key drawback in the current Ukrainian version of the Abrams. The tanks lack the advanced depleted uranium armour available in US versions, which weakens the tank’s defence against heavy attacks. Crews have called for urgent support from American partners to supply dynamic armour upgrades, particularly for the turret and sides, to increase crew survivability.
While some Abrams tanks have been damaged, the soldiers insist that reports of them being withdrawn from the battlefield are pure fiction. In reality, their deployment depends on battlefield conditions. They are not used in one-on-one tank duels but rather in coordinated tactical operations. If it were a fair tank versus tank fight, Ukrainian soldiers say the Abrams would easily overpower the Russian T-72.
Equipped with 120 mm smoothbore guns, advanced thermal sights for both day and night combat, and a range of up to 4 kilometres, the Abrams tanks continue to prove their effectiveness. The crew also called for a greater variety of ammunition, especially high-explosive shells, to expand their tactical capabilities. Training Ukrainian crews to operate the tanks has been faster than expected, thanks to intuitive systems and simplified controls.
The soldiers noted that while the tank’s front armour is not as strong as claimed, it still provides reasonable protection, with some units surviving direct hits, including from Russian Lancet drones. One soldier even joked that riding an Abrams felt like driving a scooter, thanks to its smooth controls.
