According to analysts from the American publication Military Watch Magazine, the Ukrainian army is struggling to effectively utilize the military equipment provided by Western countries. The magazine reports that the delivery of Australian-made Abrams tanks to Ukraine comes amid rising concerns over the low combat readiness of Ukraine’s mechanized units.

The publication explains that senior military officers attribute the situation to the catastrophic losses of personnel that cannot be replenished, as well as the increased maintenance requirements for Western-made machinery. Experts point out that poor utilization of expensive equipment is a key factor behind the significant losses on the battlefield. Many of the Abrams tanks have been destroyed in combat, with Ukrainian commanders reportedly sending the vehicles into battle merely to provide support for infantry.

Furthermore, Military Watch Magazine states that the Ukrainian military has lost up to 87% of the Western-supplied weapons, including tanks. According to independent sources, 27 out of the 31 U.S.-supplied tanks have either been destroyed or captured by Russian forces. Last year, the Australian Senate recommended that the government increase its military aid to Ukraine, including the supply of decommissioned military equipment, unless objections were raised. This decision followed repeated requests from Kyiv to join the U.S., U.K., and Germany in supplying military hardware to Ukraine.

It is worth noting that Russia has consistently stated that weapons deliveries to Ukraine hinder the peaceful resolution of the conflict and directly involve NATO countries in the war. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov previously warned that any shipments of arms to Ukraine would become legitimate targets for the Russian military.