Second-hand tanks donated to Ukraine by Australia being deployed in combat operations against Russian forces

Second-hand tanks donated to Ukraine by Australia are being deployed in Christmas combat operations against Russian forces, after being heavily modified with anti-drone protections.

Recent images from the battlefront reveal the M1A1 Abrams tanks have been fitted with additional passive armour and explosive reactive armour blocks mounted on the turret, upper frontal plate, and hull sides.

To counter the growing threat posed by lethal FPV drones, Ukrainian crews have also reportedly installed an improvised anti-drone “hood” made from fishing nets.

According to local military observers, the ageing American-built vehicles are now in service with the 425th “Skala” Regiment of the Ukrainian Armed Forces after recently arriving in Europe from Australia.

The tanks have retained their Australian camouflage features, allowing them to be distinguished from recent American M1A1 deliveries.

Over recent days Australian M1A1 tanks have seen combat near the Russian held city of Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast, where Ukrainian forces are attempting to liberate occupied territory.

Another recent battlefront video to emerge appears to show one of the heavily armoured and modified Australian donated Abrams destroyed and abandoned on the outskirts of Pokrovsk.

Russian troops have pushed into Pokrovsk for months in small infantry groups, looking to capture the former logistics hub as a critical part of President Vladimir Putin’s campaign to seize the entire industrial Donbas region of eastern Ukraine.

Earlier this month the Australian Defence Force announced it had completed its delivery of 49 M1A1 Abrams tanks, as part of long-standing support for Ukraine in its fight against Russia’s “illegal and immoral invasion”.

Valued at approximately $245 million, the donated Abrams fleet forms part of more than $1.7 billion in total Australian assistance delivered since the Russian invasion began, of which more than $1.5b is military aid.

Most of the tanks arrived in Ukraine in July with many already deployed to the frontline, while the final tranche was handed over just weeks ago.

Colonel James Smith, who commands the ADF’s Operation Kudu in Europe, said the operation to bring the tanks from Australia to Europe had been a major logistical undertaking.

“It is a huge undertaking to bring a 60-tonne tank half way across the world and make sure that when we give it to our Ukrainian friends, it is ready to use,” Colonel Smith said.

The armoured vehicles, accompanied by five ADF personnel, were shipped to Europe aboard a commercial cargo vessel earlier this year, but their delivery was complicated after operations were temporarily halted at a US-funded logistics facility in Poland.

Last year the US Government also cautioned Australia against donating the ageing tanks because of the logistical expense and difficulties around maintaining the vehicles inside Ukraine.