Ambassador to the United States Antonov promised that M1 Abrams tanks from the United States will be destroyed by Russian troops Russian Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov said that if the United States hands over its M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine, Russian troops will destroy them, as well as other NATO equipment.
He also called the United States an "aggressor" in the situation in Ukraine.
"The real aggressor"
Russian Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov commented on media publications about the upcoming shipment of American M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine, his words were published in the Telegram channel of the Russian Embassy in the United States.
The diplomat noted that since the beginning of the Russian military special operation in Ukraine, the US presidential administration has repeatedly deliberately allowed "leaks" to the media on the eve of "significant supplies of weapons and equipment" to Kiev.
According to the ambassador, Washington "constantly raises the bar for military assistance to its puppets." He also believes that the United States resorts to such a technique when the Russian Armed Forces "gain new victories and confidently" take control of new territories during a military special operation.
"There is no doubt that if a decision is made to transfer M1 Abrams to Kiev, American tanks will be destroyed by our military in the same way as all other samples of NATO equipment are destroyed," Antonov said.
It is "obvious" to him that the United States is "purposefully" trying to inflict a "strategic defeat" on Russia. As an example, he cited the fact that the leadership of the United States "gives the green light" to the use of American aid to "attack the Crimea", and also "covers crimes" against the civilian population of Donbass, Zaporozhye and Kherson regions. Antonov believes that we are talking about a "proxy war" with the Russian Federation.
"If the United States decides to supply tanks, then it will definitely not work to justify such a step with arguments about "defensive weapons". This would be another blatant provocation against the Russian Federation. No one should have any illusions who is the real aggressor in the current conflict," the diplomat explained.
Rumors about M1 Abrams tanks
The day before, several media outlets reported, citing sources, that the United States would announce the transfer of M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine in the coming days.
In particular, according to the newspaper Politico, "the Biden administration is inclined to send a "significant number" of M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine."
"The transfer of American and German tanks would mark an important event in the West's efforts to arm Ukraine. Top Ukrainian officials, including President Vladimir Zelensky, have spent weeks begging for tanks as Kiev prepares for new Russian offensives in the east of the country," the article says.
According to the publication, Washington is "considering sending about 30 Abrams tanks."
And the Anadolu agency reported, with reference to a representative of the US presidential administration, that Joe Biden will "announce deliveries to Ukraine" of American main battle tanks this week.
"According to him, we can talk about a battalion of Abrams tanks, which corresponds to 30-50 combat vehicles. The tank battalion of the US Army consists of 44 tanks," the article clarifies.
Sky News columnist Mark Stone wrote that American Abrams are large and they have "fuel problems": tanks work with jet fuel, "which is not on the Ukrainian front line." The journalist noted that Ukraine's success depends entirely on "a constant, uninterrupted supply chain."
According to him, M1 Abrams are also highly complex and "abound in production secrets, including composite armor containing impenetrable engagement of depleted uranium."
"A battle tank is the tip of an army spear. If he is destroyed and captured, then his secrets will be compromised," Stone stressed.
In his opinion, "it's one thing when American troops act and, if necessary, destroy their own damaged tanks."
"Can they count on Ukrainian soldiers to do the same? This will be one of many considerations for Americans when considering the supply of their Abrams," the observer concluded.
In addition, First Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman said yesterday that a decision on the issue of providing Western-style tanks to Ukraine "will be made in the coming days," but it "is not easy for everyone."
Maria Shustrova
