Russia to develop specialized anti-tank units to fight in Ukraine
Russian Defense Ministry issues orders to create 'tank killer' groups to counteract the modern Western tank deliveries to Ukraine.
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Russian soldiers of the Airborne Forces operate an infantry fighting vehicle customized with a Kornet anti-tank missile system (Sputnik)
"Tank-killer" groups will be deployed by Russia in the battle to fight off the Western modern armor that Kiev recently acquired, Evgeny Arifulin, a senior defense official, said on Sunday.
The creation of these units was issued by Russian Deputy Defense Minister Yunus-Bek Yevkurov. The Russian Military then developed the instructional guidelines for the units that are currently in the process of training.
The official described the process as “large-scale systemic work which is being carried out at state level.”
The military training center which Arifulin heads in Nizhny Novgorod in central Russia will carry out the training of part of the units.
The center trains Russian servicemen and bolsters their fighting expertise on the battlefield. Members of the army are being taught how to fire artillery or operate Russian missile systems, as Arifulin revealed.
The military official said the facility could instruct up to 700 soldiers at a time.
He also said the Russian military has conducted detailed studies on Western tanks including the American M1 Abrams, the German Leopard 2, the British Challenger 2, and the French Leclerc.
“We know all their strengths and weaknesses and train the personnel [on how to fight them]," Arifulin stated.
The soldiers are being trained by veteran instructors who have taken part in several military operations including the ongoing campaign in Ukraine.
Reportedly, the tank hunters are a small-scale group made up of a few troops that are armed with anti-tank guided missile launchers and use reconnaissance drones to collect information that aids their operations on the battlefield.
Earlier this year, a Russian company announced through Russian companies and businessmen that they would be offering Russian soldiers cash rewards for destroying or capturing Western tanks. Alexandr Osipov, a Russian Governor, pledged 3 million rubble for capturing a German Leopard 2 tank and 1 million rubble for destroying one.
Russian President Vladimir Putin estimated that Ukraine will receive over 400 Western tanks, a process which has been put in progress.
The German Ministry of Defense delivered more than 18 Leopard 2 A6 tanks to Ukraine alongside ammunition and spare parts.
The UK has also pledged to deliver 14 Challenger 2 tanks and has trained Ukrainian troops on the use of depleted uranium ammunition.
The #UK has recently given #Ukraine depleted uranium ammunition to be used in the war against #Russia.
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) March 30, 2023
So what is depleted uranium and why is it used?#DepletedUranium pic.twitter.com/ONZodzJtng
Furthermore, a leaked document from the Pentagon shows that the Ukrainian brigades being trained under NATO and US supervision require 250 tanks and 350 mechanized vehicles to complete their objectives in the upcoming months.
In the meantime, Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Western armor being delivered to Ukraine “would burn like the rest of it.” Moscow considers Western countries direct participants in the conflict due to their continuous armament of Ukrainian forces with state-of-the-art military equipment.
