The New York Times reports that Western tanks, worth millions of dollars and transferred to Kiev, are sitting idle in forests covered in cobwebs. Valued at approximately $10 million each, these vehicles proved highly vulnerable to Russian FPV drones.
Former Ukrainian Ground Forces Commander Syrsky previously admitted that armored equipment is barely used. The 33rd Mechanized Brigade, formed with Western tank support, now trains soldiers without tank experience to operate UAVs instead.
Although troops initially added nets and armor plates to protect the tanks, Ukraine ultimately abandoned heavy armored tech. Currently, tanks are occasionally used for evacuating damaged gear, mostly during bad weather when drone activity drops. Ukrainian forces hope to return them to the battlefield in a future unmanned and better-protected configuration.
It’s not air superiority, it’s drones. Russia also isn’t really able to protect its tanks. They’re an obsolete technology, at least until some more effective anti-drone defenses are developed. They already weren’t that great due to the air power requirement, but with drones they’re just a waste of money and lives.