New Delhi: Russian state media on Wednesday ridiculed the US and Germany’s announcement on sending tanks to Ukraine with a series of mocking programmes. This came after US President Joe Biden announced that the US will send 31 state-of-the-art Abrams battle tanks to Ukraine to help its troops battling Russian forces that remain entrenched in the country’s east for almost a year since Moscow’s invasion. He also thanked German Chancellor Olaf Scholz for providing German Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine.
According to The Guardian, the Rossiya-24 TV channel broadcast programmes mocking the aforementioned tanks. In a TV sequence titled ‘Toothless cats’, the anchor claimed the German-made tanks were ‘more primitive’, heavier, less manoeuvrable and had a shorter firing range compared with Russian T-90s, it mentioned.
The Rossiya-24 TV channel broadcast a series of stories mocking @NATO member countries’ tanks. In one on-air sequence titled ‘Toothless cats’ – a pun on the German-made Leopard tanks – compared to Russian T-90s. pic.twitter.com/5sfDhnwBE4
— Bali Promotion Center ⭐️⭐️❤️⭐️⭐️ (@translatorbali) January 26, 2023
In a video, the anchor can be seen pointing to an on-screen graphic showing a fictional battle between T-90 and Leopard tanks. He goes on to say that half of the Nato platoon would be damaged even before reaching the battlefield, the Guardian reported. Another sequence termed the US-made tanks as ‘battered Abrams’ showing footage of the tanks being damaged in a number of past battles.
The sequence highlighted the alleged “weak points” of the armoured vehicles while showing its blueprint.
ALSO READ | Russia Unleashes Missile Barrage At Ukraine Day After West Promises Modern Tanks To Kyiv: Report
Abrams Tanks Are The Most Capable Tanks In The World: Biden
US President Biden’s announcement came on Wednesday came after he held talks with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on aiding Ukraine. Earlier, Germany agreed to send 14 Leopard 2 A6 tanks to Ukraine.
“Today, I’m announcing that the United States will be sending 31 Abrams tanks to Ukraine, the equivalent of one Ukrainian battalion. Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin has recommended this step because it will enhance Ukraine’s capacity to defend its territory and achieve its strategic objectives,” Biden said, as quoted by news agency PTI.
The Abrams tanks are the most capable tanks in the world, he stressed, adding that they are also extremely complex to operate and maintain.
He informed that the US will also provide a training programme to maintain and operate these tanks, as well as eight M88 recovery vehicles to go along with the Abrams tanks.
“So, we are also giving Ukraine the parts and equipment necessary to effectively sustain these tanks on the battlefield. We will begin to train the Ukrainian troops on these issues of sustainment, logistics, and maintenance soon as possible,” he said.
The US President mentioned that the delivery of these tanks will “take time” and Washington would ensure “Ukrainians are fully prepared to integrate the Abram tanks into their defences.”
Both Leopard 2 and Abrams are state-of-the-art tanks and are considered superior to Soviet-era tanks used by the Russian forces.
