Future Ukrainian M1 Abrams crews complete training in Germany

A group of Ukrainian soldiers has completed training on American M1 Abrams tanks.

Politico reports.

Colonel Martin O’Donnell, a spokesman for the U.S. Army Europe and Africa, said that the military had recently completed one of the last phases of the training program.

According to him, around 200 Ukrainians practiced on trainer tanks at the U.S. Army training grounds in Germany.

The Ukrainian servicemen are working to ensure they stay proficient in operation of American tanks at the Grafenwoehr Army base in Germany until the tanks are ready for the battlefield.

Western officials hope that the arrival of the tanks will give Ukrainian troops the edge they need.

At the end of May, the first group of Ukrainian soldiers in Germany began training on American M1 Abrams tanks.

The training program involves training not only crews to operate tanks, but also personnel to maintain these combat vehicles.

In early August, the United States officially approved the transfer of the first batch of Abrams tanks to Ukraine. It was initially planned that the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative would fund the transfer and purchase of new tanks from the manufacturer. Now, they will be withdrawn from the U.S. Armed Forces reserves. Before being shipped to Ukraine, the tanks are to be repaired and re-equipped.

The United States is also working with European allies to establish heavy maintenance repair facilities for the tanks after their involvement in hostilities with the Russian invaders.

The U.S. will provide Ukraine with depleted-uranium rounds for Abrams tanks. Such rounds are standard for American tanks.