A Blog by Jonathan Low

 

Aug 30, 2025

Ukraine's Pokrovsk Defenders Now Armed With Abrams Tanks

One of the Ukrainian regiments defending Pokrovsk has been deployed with US-made M1A1 Abrams tanks, only the second Ukrainian unit to be so armed.

This development suggests that the Ukrainians are having success with their tanks at Pokrovsk and that the Abrams is suited to that battle, where the Russians have little armor left to use. JL

Vlad Lytnarovich reports in United 24 and David Axe reports in Trench Art:

The Ukrainian army’s 425th Skala Assault Regiment was one of 10 regiments and brigades that rushed into action around Pokrovsk. It becomes the the second Ukrainian unit, after the army’s 47th Mechanized Brigade, to operate the 69-ton, four-person M1AI Abrams tanks. The Australian Abrams come with a digital fire control system, modernized thermal imaging sights and improved communications, and a satellite navigation system. The tanks may also be upgraded with anti-drone cages, electronic warfare protection, and additional explosive reactive armor—adaptations Ukraine has already applied to other armored vehicles.

The Ukrainian army’s 425th Assault Regiment was one of around 10 regiments and brigades that rushed into action around the fortress city of Pokrovsk, in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk Oblast, to block a dangerous Russian breakthrough in early August.

Now the regiment may have heavy reinforcements—in the form of ex-Australian M-1 Abrams tanks. On Thursday, the 425th Assault Regiment announced it would be the second unit, after the army’s 47th Mechanized Brigade, to operate the 69-ton, four-person tanks. 

 

A tank unit of Ukraine’s 425th Assault Regiment “Skala” has been equipped with American-made M1 Abrams, becoming the second formation in the Armed Forces of Ukraine to field the advanced main battle tanks, according to an announcement published on the regiment’s official page on August 28.

The unit confirmed the reinforcement with Abrams by releasing a statement accompanied by images of tanks from the 47th Mechanized Brigade “Magura,” which until now had been the only operator of the Abrams in Ukraine.

 

According to the Ukrainian defense media outlet Militarnyi, the 425th Regiment is believed to have received Australian-supplied M1A1 Abrams, the first batch of which arrived in Ukraine in late July. Canberra pledged to deliver a full tank battalion consisting of 49 vehicles.

Australia’s Abrams differ slightly from the baseline American variant. They were upgraded to the M1A1 AIM SA standard and include several modifications tailored to Australian requirements. These tanks feature an updated armor package without depleted uranium.

AIM SA electronics suite with a digital fire control system, modernized thermal imaging sights and improved communications, and a satellite navigation system.

One of the most significant changes is the reconfigured gas turbine engine, adapted to run on diesel fuel rather than JP-8 aviation kerosene, which is standard in the US Army. This modification simplifies logistics for Ukraine’s military, whose armored fleet already operates on diesel.

In all other respects, the Australian Abrams are identical to those already in Ukrainian service. Once in theater, the tanks may also be upgraded with anti-drone cages, electronic warfare protection, and additional explosive reactive armor—adaptations Ukraine has already applied to other armored vehicles.

The 425th Regiment’s tank unit was only formed earlier this year and had previously been equipped with modernized Leopard 1A5 tanks. Earlier, a 22-year-old US Army soldier stationed at Fort Bliss was arrested for attempting to pass sensitive military information to Russian intelligence in exchange for citizenship.

Taylor Adam Lee is accused of collecting classified materials and stealing equipment from US military vehicles, including the M1A2 Abrams tank.

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