The Russian military established units specialized in eliminating Western tanks that support Ukraine, training soldiers to target their vulnerabilities. According to Evgeny Arifulin, the head of the Russian Army’s Combat Training Center, on April 9, specialized units for destroying Western tanks were formed based on the instructions of Lieutenant General Yunus-bek Yevkurov, the Deputy Defense Minister of Russia. Mr. Arifulin assessed that this is a comprehensive and well-planned program, progressing according to the designated schedule.

Members of the units specialized in neutralizing Western tanks are studying the weaknesses of these types of armored vehicles. “Our primary objective is to analyze the armaments provided by the West to Ukraine, dissecting them to identify the most effective points of attack, the likelihood of failure, weak spots, and vulnerable positions.

We also examine the wounded, determine the appropriate weapons to employ, and establish the optimal sequence for their destruction,” explained an instructor at the Russian Army’s Combat Training Center. Previously, on March 17, the Russian Ministry of Defense released images showing officers instructing the crew of the T-90M tank on the tactical characteristics and features of Western tanks such as the M1 Abrams and Leopard 2.

The T-90M crews familiarized themselves with the vulnerabilities of Western tanks supplied to Ukraine, honed their gunnery skills, and improved their control of the combat vehicles. Russia established a unit dedicated to disabling Western tanks after Ukraine received Leopard 2 and Challenger 2 tanks. The Pentagon stated on March 21 that the US might provide M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine in the coming autumn. Ukraine believes that the tanks donated by the West can help its army shift the tide of the war.

However, Western experts assess that receiving three different main tank models will pose significant logistical challenges for Ukraine due to their complexity, requiring separate maintenance and repair processes. Meanwhile, Russia insists that any weaponry transferred by the West to Ukraine will only prolong the conflict and lead to unnecessary bloodshed. The Kremlin issued a warning, stating that “German tanks will meet the same fate as other Western weapons, burning up on the Ukrainian battlefield.”