Ukraine's New Brigades Face Critical Armored Vehicle Shortage
Ukraine forms 14 new combat brigades but lacks modern armored vehicles. Allies' slow aid delivery and political challenges in the US hinder efforts to equip troops, impacting Ukraine's defense capabilities.
Ukraine's military is facing a significant challenge as it forms 14 new combat brigades to bolster its defense against Russian aggression. Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian President, revealed in a CNN interview on September 15, 2024, that only four of these brigades have received sufficient modern armored vehicles from allies.
The shortage of equipment is critical, with approximately 1,000 vehicles needed to fully equip the new units. A typical Ukrainian brigade requires about 93 armored vehicles, including tanks, armored personnel carriers, and armored trucks. This deficiency forces many units to rely on outdated Soviet-era equipment or fight primarily on foot.
While Ukraine's allies have pledged around 5,200 modern armored vehicles since Russia escalated its invasion in February 2022, only about 2,900 have been delivered. This slow delivery rate barely covers the losses sustained in combat. According to the Oryx project, an open-source intelligence initiative, Ukraine has lost at least 4,700 vehicles to Russian action in the past 31 months.
The situation is exacerbated by delays in refurbishing and delivering promised vehicles. For instance, a Belgian-Danish-Dutch consortium has supplied only 60 of the nearly 200 German-made Leopard 1 tanks offered to Ukraine 19 months ago. These delays are attributed to repair issues and spare parts shortages.
"We have received barely enough modern vehicles for even four out of 14 brigades the Ukrainian army has been organizing."
The United States, Ukraine's largest ally, possesses thousands of surplus M-1 Abrams tanks and M-2 Bradley fighting vehicles in storage. However, it has provided Ukraine with only 31 M-1s and just over 300 M-2s. The US has the funds to supply more vehicles through the presidential drawdown authority, which allows the transfer of defense articles without congressional approval.
Political challenges in Washington are complicating efforts to secure more aid. The current drawdown funds are set to expire on September 30, 2024. The White House has requested an extension, but its approval depends on Mike Johnson, the Speaker of the US House of Representatives. Johnson, aligned with former President Donald Trump, previously blocked US funding for Ukraine for six months starting in October 2023.
For Ukrainian troops on the front lines, this equipment shortage is not just frustrating—it's a matter of life and death. As the conflict enters its third year, the need for modern, well-equipped forces to defend Ukraine's sovereignty has never been more critical.
