Ukraine will receive the first 10 out of 31 Abrams tanks promised by the United States in mid-September, which, Western officials hope, should become a game changer in Kiev's so far failing counteroffensive, the Politico newspaper reported, citing an unnamed source in the Pentagon.
"The US Defense Defense Department official told the news outlet on Thursday that the tanks were already undergoing final checks and preparations in Germany. After the necessary procedures are finished, the tanks will be sent to Ukraine," the official added.
"The U.S. is committed to expedite delivery of the 31 tanks to Ukraine by the fall," spokesman for the US Army Command Col. Martin O'Donnell was also quoted by the newspaper as saying.
He added that about 200 Ukrainian soldiers had already completed a training program on the Abrams tanks at the training grounds of the US forces in Germany.
Meanwhile, another source in the Pentagon told the newspaper that these tanks are "not a silver bullet," and it is Ukraine's ability to fight that is key.
Ukraine launched a counteroffensive against Russian forces in early June after multiple postponements. Citing the counteroffensive's needs, Kiev pushed its Western donors to step up its military and financial aid.
The Russian Defense Ministry estimates that, as of August 4, Ukraine's losses in the counteroffensive were about 43,000 troops and 4,900 units of military equipment.