Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Syrian Defense: We call on all parties in Sweida to cooperate with security forces and exercise restraint
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese Army is continuing its investigations and will later announce any information that does not affect the confidentiality of the investigation
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: It has not yet been determined whether the detainees belong to ISIS or another organization
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Around 10 people of different nationalities, including Lebanese nationals, were detained
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese army arrested a number of people in the Matn area of Mount Lebanon with possession it has not disclosed
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: We have strong indications that there are martyrs, injuries, and trapped people in the Salah al-Din area
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Citizens should avoid Salah al-Din Street because anyone who approaches it is at risk of being directly targeted
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Reality is that there is a very limited retreat of the vehicles, with the occupation forces providing cover undeer fire up to Salah al-Din Street
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Claims that the Israeli occupation has withdrawn from areas in the neighborhoods of al-Zaytoun, al-Tuffah, and al-Shujaiya are false
Hamas: The two delegations stressed that any negotiations must lead to the achievement of our people's goals and aspirations, foremost among which is ending the war and the complete withdrawal of enemy forces

Ukraine's spy chief on US Abrams delivery: Haven't seen them yet

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 23 Sep 2023 15:08
3 Min Read

The head of Ukraine's intelligence says that the US-made main battle tank will not be able to survive for long on the front lines and must be used in a very "tailored" way.

  • x
  • Ukraine's spy chief on US Abrams delivery: Haven't seen them yet
    US President Joe Biden with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at Mariinsky Palace in Kiev on February 20, 2023 (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office)

Abrams tanks provided by the United States will not survive for long if deployed on the front lines, while the limited quantity of Army Tactical Missile Systems ATACMS missiles supplied are unlikely to be a game changer, Ukraine's military intelligence service, Kyrylo Budanov, told The War Zone news site on Friday.

According to the report, Budanov reached out to the site asking if they would like an interview while he was in Washington DC on a visit alongside President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Read more: US downgrades Abrams tanks sent to Ukraine for fear of being captured

In January, Washington revealed that it would be sending 31 of its M1 Abrams main battle tank to Ukraine within a few months.

Earlier this week, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced that the United States will "soon" deliver the M1 Abrams tanks to its ally to fulfill its commitment to support Kiev's war efforts.

"They should be used in a very tailored way for very specific, well-crafted operations because if they are used at the front line and just in a combined arms fight, they will not live very long on the battlefield. They need to be used in those breakthrough operations, but very well-prepared," Budanov said in the interview.

But when asked about the delivery of the Abrams to Ukraine and their effectiveness in the course of the battle given the full utilization of other hardware in the war, Budanov said that Kiev is "looking forward to seeing that," but "We haven't seen them yet."

Related News

Trump approves Patriot missiles to Ukraine, bills EU for costs

Russia slams US-Denmark military pact as threat to its security

US broadcaster NBC News reported on Friday that Washington has approved supplying Kiev with ATACMS. However, no official statement by the White House has been made.

Asked about the news during a press briefing in Washington, Zelensky declined to comment but noted that the US is Kiev's largest weapons provider.

"We are discussing all the different types of weapons – long-range weapons and artillery, artillery shells with the caliber of 155mm, then air defense systems," he told reporters.

According to the spy chief, these missiles - which have a range of 306km (190 miles) - would help them strike sensitive targets deep within Russian territory, including airfields and command centers.

Nevertheless, Budanov added that a small number of ATACMS missiles "won’t change the situation," as the country needs "at least hundreds" for them to be effective in the war.

Russia earlier warned that such a move would be regarded as crossing a "red line" and that the US would be viewed as "a party to the conflict" in Ukraine in the event that it moves forward with sending these types of missiles to Kiev.

Read more: HIMARS are useless, Russia has "remarkably adapted": NYT

According to a report by Defense News published last week, heavy European tanks and armored vehicles have struggled in the mud and with fuel shortages in Ukraine. They have also been vulnerable to enemy fire. The German-made Leopard tank, which was considered superior to the Abrams tank, has not performed well.

The failure of the Leopard tank in Ukraine raises concerns that the Abrams tank could also be vulnerable to Russian attacks, the report noted, adding that neither the Abrams tank nor the Leopard tank is equipped with active protection systems or reactive armor.

  • United States
  • Russia
  • ATACMS
  • Abrams Tanks
  • war in Ukraine
  • Ukraine
  • Kyrylo Budanov
  • Joe Biden

Most Read

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Major ambush in Gaza kills 6 Israeli troops, injures dozens

Major ambush in Gaza kills 5 Israeli troops, injures 14

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Israeli soldiers are seen in Beit Hanoun ahead of an operation by the al-Qassam Brigades, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

'Israel' on blast as media exposes report discrepancies in Gaza ambush

  • Palestine
  • 8 Jul 2025
Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

  • Politics
  • 9 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
The Freedom Flotilla ship Handala as it departs for Gaza, where it aims to break the maritime blockade at a port in Syracuse, Sicily in southern Italy on July 13, 2025. (AFP)
Palestine

Freedom Flotilla's Handala departs Sicily in bid to break Gaza siege

The container ship CMA CGM Laperouse, left, docks at the Georgia Ports Authority's Port of Savannah, Sept. 29, 2021, in Savannah, Ga (AP)
Politics

US shipbuilding woes deepen as tariffs, outdated policies backfire

Gaza war raises ethical questions for ex-Obama, Biden officials
Politics

Mercenary firm tied to Gaza war crimes hires Obama-Biden PR operatives

'Israel' targets children in Gaza collecting water
Palestine

'Israel' strikes Gaza kids fetching water, blames it on 'malfunction'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS