A senior official in the US Department of Defense suggested, on Friday, that Russia had lost half of its tanks, which were “either destroyed or fell into the hands of the Ukrainians.”
“Russia has probably lost half of its main battle tank inventory in the fighting, and through the Ukrainians’ seizure of them,” said Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs Celeste Wallender 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 attack on Ukraine in February 2022, coincides with Kyiv’s readiness to receive heavy Western tanks from its Western supporters.
Britain announced that Challenger 2 tanks would be sent to Ukraine in March, while Germany said it would send a group of Leopard 2 tanks to Kyiv by April.
The United States has also pledged to send 31 of its M1 Abrams tanks, but it is expected that it will take longer to arrive in Ukraine.