U.S. M1A1 Abrams tanks arrive at Grafenwoehr, Germany, Friday, May 12, 2023. The tanks are now being used for training of Ukrainian armed forces personnel. 7th Army Training Command is leading the training in Germany on behalf of U.S. Army Europe and Africa. (U.S. Army)
STUTTGART, Germany— About 200 Ukrainian soldiers have begun training on Abrams tanks at military ranges in Germany, the U.S. Army in Europe said Sunday in a statement.
The Ukrainian soldiers, who comprise an armored battalion, are joined by an additional 200 soldiers focused on the unique refueling and maintenance requirements needed to keep the M1A1 Abrams system operating, the Army said.
Col. Martin O’Donnell, spokesman for U.S. Army Europe and Africa, said the Ukrainian tank battalion will be working on combined arms drills that includes everything from basic marksmanship and medical training to battalion level force-on-force tactics.
“It represents the continuation of a world-wide effort led by the U.S. and supported by more than 50 nations to help Ukraine defend itself from Russia's brutal and unprovoked war,” O’Donnell said in the statement.
The training, which officially launched Friday, is being carried out at U.S. Army sites in the Grafenwoehr area.
Earlier this month, about 30 Abrams tanks arrived in Grafenwoehr, so that Ukrainians could begin preparing for battle-ready versions of the tanks that are expected to be available later this year. The Army’s Grafenwoehr training area is the service’s major training hub in Europe and includes more than 100 miles of tank and secondary trails as well as dozens of artillery and mortar firing positions, and aerial gunnery and close-air-support zones.
The launch of the tank training represents the latest step in an ongoing effort to get more sophisticated weaponry into the hands of Ukrainian troops.
Initially, the U.S. balked at the idea of giving Abrams tanks to the Ukrainians, citing the sophisticated maintenance demands of the armored vehicles. However, over the course of the war, the U.S. has gradually expanded what weapons systems it is willing to add to Ukraine’s arsenal.
At the start of Russia’s invasion in February 2022, simpler equipment such as Stinger anti-aircraft missiles was a focal point of the effort to arm Ukraine’s military. Since then, longer-range and more advanced precision systems, such as the High Mobility Rocket System, and Patriot missiles have been incorporated.
Since the start of Russia’s war, USAREUR-AF has trained several thousand Ukrainian troops at its bases in Germany. Meanwhile, other allies have been involved in similar training efforts at other locations across Europe.
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