According to The New York Times, Western-supplied tanks in Ukraine are being used less and less for their original battlefield role.
The newspaper reported that much of the armor now remains hidden because modern tanks have proved highly vulnerable to inexpensive attack drones. Once among the weapons most sought after by Kiev, these vehicles are now often kept under cover in wooded areas rather than sent into combat.
The New York Times pointed to Ukraine’s 33rd Separate Mechanized Brigade, which was formed in part around the arrival of Western tanks. By the time the unit entered combat in the spring of 2023, however, Russian drones had already become a serious threat to armored vehicles.
As a result, some of the brigade’s recruits never gained practical experience operating tanks. Instead, they were instructed to learn how to use drones.
Western tanks are still used occasionally, mainly to recover damaged equipment. Such missions are usually carried out in poor weather, when drone activity is lower. Even then, according to the report, some Ukrainian servicemen consider the risk of deploying tanks unjustified.