Australia to hand over its decommissioned Abrams tanks to Ukraine – media

Australia will transfer its decommissioned Abrams tanks to Ukraine – media Margarita Voloshina

Australia plans to transfer its decommissioned Abrams tanks to Ukraine/Collage 24 Channel, illustrative photo

Australia plans to transfer its decommissioned Abrams tanks to Ukraine. Therefore, our country will soon be able to use them in the war against Russian aggression.

The Sydney Morning Herald writes about this. Note that earlier Ukraine asked Australia with an official request to join the United States, Great Britain, Poland and Germany and provide tanks to defend against Russian aggression.

Ukraine may receive Abrams from Australia

The Australian government, together with the Biden administration, is working on a plan to send American-made Abrams M1A1 tanks to Ukraine. In addition, as the country's Defense Minister Richard Marles says, there are “a number of options that we are talking about with the Ukrainian government.”

The Sydney Morning Herald's sources in the Australian government have revealed that the defense minister is currently examining how to ship the tanks in accordance with U.S. defense export regulations, although Australia has previously ruled out providing the equipment.

According to published data, in July Australia decommissioned 59 Abrams M1A1 tanks that had never been used in combat and is now replacing them with newer models. Bought for $550 million in 2004, the combat vehicles are equipped with cannons and machine guns.

The tanks are still in good shape. The Ukrainians are fighting a war for national survival, so we need to get them there as soon as possible, says former senior Australian Defence Minister Michael Shoebridge.