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One of the symbols of Western military aid to Ukraine, German Leopard 2 tanks, has performed much worse than expected in combat. This was reported by the Daily Telegraph, citing a report by the military attaché of the German Embassy in Kyiv, which he presented at a meeting with 200 Bundeswehr officers.
The 18 Leopard 2 tanks delivered to Ukraine in 2023 did not have a significant impact on the situation at the front. According to the article, the armoured vehicles proved to be too vulnerable to drone attacks, which has already become a key factor in modern warfare.
The main problems of Leopard 2 in Ukraine
Experts emphasise that tanks developed in Germany are characterised by their complex design and demanding maintenance. It is virtually impossible to use them in the harsh conditions of the frontline without full logistical support.
“These tanks are not designed for a war like the one in Ukraine. They need air support, which the Ukrainian Armed Forces do not have. In addition, there were too few of them delivered, and even sending one tank for repair has a significant impact on the unit’s combat capabilities,” Serhiy Sumleniy, head of the Berlin-based European Resilience Initiative Centre, told the Daily Telegraph.
Due to the technical features of the Leopard 2, after damage, it has to be transported to repair bases in Western Ukraine or Poland, as it was impossible to carry out maintenance directly in the combat zone.
Western armored vehicles are not for this war?
The operational problems are not limited to Leopard 2. Other models of Western armoured vehicles, such as the American Abrams and the British Challenger 2, which are in service with the Ukrainian Armed Forces, face similar difficulties.
Initially, these difficulties were attributed to a “low maintenance culture” within the Ukrainian Armed Forces, but now more and more experts recognise that Western tanks were designed for a different war – one with NATO air superiority, developed infrastructure and a stable rear.
Instead, the war in Ukraine has become a war of artillery, drones and minefields, where heavy armoured vehicles are often easy targets without adequate air protection.
