The Rubikon Center, an elite drone unit of the Russian Ministry of Defense, announced on 22/12 that it had coordinated with the 76th Guards Air Assault Division to detect and destroy an M1A1 Abrams main battle tank in the area northwest of Pokrovsk city, Donetsk province.

A video released on the same day showed the M1A1 abandoned by the roadside, seemingly disabled by a previous attack, with its slat armor and turret hatch open. At least two fiber-optic drones approached and entered the vehicle's compartment, detonating and causing the M1 to catch fire.

Russian drones destroy a Ukrainian M1A1 Abrams tank near Pokrovsk city, Donetsk province in a video released on 22/12. Video: Russian Ministry of Defense

The M1A1 featured black, green, and brown paint, typical of the camouflage pattern used on armored vehicles in the Australian military. The Rubikon Center stated this could be the first M1A1 tank from Australia's aid package to Ukraine to be destroyed on the battlefield.

The Australian Ministry of Defense announced on 19/12 that it had completed the transfer of 49 M1A1s to Ukraine after five months. The total cost of the program was 245 million USD, including logistics expenses.

Australia purchased 59 M1A1 Abrams tanks in 2007 but never deployed them in combat. The Australian military had mothballed and decommissioned most of its M1A1 tanks before providing them as aid to Ukraine. A large portion of these would be dismantled for parts for the M1A1s Ukraine had received earlier.

In parallel with transferring the older tank batch to Ukraine, Australia is implementing a 3,5 billion USD rearmament program, which includes purchasing 75 modern M1A2 SEPv3 tanks along with related technical and recovery vehicles.

Location of Pokrovsk city, Donetsk province. Graphic: RYV

The US has transferred a total of 31 M1A1SA Abrams tanks to Ukraine, enough to equip an armored battalion. The Ukrainian military previously stated that the 10 million USD US tank model would be a critical weapon for breaking through enemy defenses.

However, these forces have sustained heavy losses despite limited deployment, not participating in combined assault operations as per NATO military doctrine. Oryx, a Netherlands-based war analysis website, estimates Ukraine has lost at least 22 Abrams tanks since this vehicle type entered combat in February 2024.

Nguyen Tien (According to AFP, AP, RIA Novosti)