Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs: Russia likely lost half of its main battle tank stock in combat and through Ukrainian seizure
A senior US defense official said, on Friday, that half of the Russian battle tanks were destroyed or captured by the Ukrainians.
Russia has “probably lost half of its main battle tank inventory in combat and through the Ukrainians’ capture,” Celeste Wallender, Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, said during a virtual event for the New American Security Center.
Wallender’s estimate, which did not provide an exact number of tanks lost by Russia since the start of its military operation in Ukraine in February 2022, coincides with Kiev’s readiness to receive heavy Western tanks from its Western supporters.
The United Kingdom announced that British Challenger 2 tanks would be sent to Ukraine in March, while Germany said it would send a group of Leopard 2 tanks to Kiev by April.
In turn, the United States pledged to send 31 of its M1 Abrams tanks, but it is expected that it will take longer to arrive in Ukraine.
This comes as Russia launched an “intensive” attack, with dozens of missiles and explosive drones, on energy sites in Ukraine, according to what Ukraine announced.
The new Russian bombings of Ukraine come after President Volodymyr Zelensky made a European tour, during which he visited London, Paris and Brussels to urge his European allies to supply him with long-range missiles and combat aircraft.
Kiev has been warning for several days of a massive attack being prepared by the Russian army, which has intensified military pressure on the front line in the east, where its forces are advancing slowly.
