Kathrine Frich
Few weapons in modern warfare carry the symbolic weight of the American M1 Abrams.
Long regarded as one of the most powerful tanks in the world, it has represented both a battlefield asset and a political statement for Ukraine since its long-anticipated arrival.
Western officials saw the Abrams as a tool to break entrenched Russian lines, while Moscow treated its deployment as a direct challenge to its own military image.
Now the destruction of the first Abrams used by Ukraine has become a propaganda victory in Russia, accompanied by a substantial private reward.
Payout delivered
According to TASS, soldiers from the 15th Motorized Rifle Brigade, known as the Black Hussars, received 10 million rubles for destroying the first American M1 Abrams tank in February 2024.
The money was offered by Russian actor and businessman Ivan Okhlobystin, who had promised payment for the first confirmed kill.
The agency reported that the sum was transferred in two installments of 5 million rubles each. The tank was destroyed near Avdiivka, an area Russia had already secured.
Okhlobystin told TASS:
“We transferred the full amount, but the prizes were distributed in installments: first 5 million, then another 5 million.”
Propaganda significance
Russian media quickly amplified the incident, portraying it as proof that Western armored vehicles could be defeated.
The Abrams had long been depicted in Russia as nearly invulnerable, and its destruction was framed as a symbolic milestone.
Last year, Russian authorities showcased captured Leopard 2 and Abrams tanks at a Moscow exhibition and deliberately damaged them using heavy equipment to create dramatic images.
The orchestrated destruction was presented as a demonstration of Russian superiority over NATO-supplied weapons.
The first battlefield loss of an Abrams was therefore treated as a major public relations moment.
How the attack unfolded
The strike took place on February 26 just northwest of Avdiivka. Russia’s Defense Ministry confirmed the incident the following day.
Drone operators played a central role in the engagement, according to accounts later shared by Russian media.
A drone operator known as Rassvet described the operation.
“The air reconnaissance unit conducted surveillance, spotted the tank, and confirmed it was an Abrams. They gave the order to attack, immediately launched a drone, which took off, conducted an objective inspection, and confirmed it was an Abrams,” he said.
The first drone hit the rear of the vehicle beneath the turret, stopping it. A second drone then attacked from a higher angle and detonated the ammunition inside.
“The Abrams tanks will continue to burn, they should continue to burn, they must,” Rassvet said.
Ukraine’s Abrams losses
Oryx, an independent verification project, estimates that Ukraine has lost around 22 M1A1 Abrams tanks.
Military Watch magazine has reported that 27 of the 31 Abrams provided to Ukraine are no longer operational, though this figure cannot be independently confirmed.
Ukrainian officials have said they face difficulty maintaining the tanks due to shortages of spare parts.
The Associated Press reported in October 2024 that Ukraine had reduced its use of Abrams tanks because of the prevalence of drones on the battlefield.
Commanders have also stated that the tanks require additional upgrades to withstand FPV drone attacks.
From U.S. training to limited deployment
The United States agreed in January 2023 to send 31 Abrams tanks to Ukraine. Ukrainian crews trained at the Grafenwoehr base in Germany to learn maintenance, operation and coordinated maneuver tactics.
President Volodymyr Zelensky announced in September 2023 that the tanks had reached Ukraine.
Their use has remained limited since then, partly because of logistical challenges and the evolving risks posed by drones.
Additional tanks from Australia were later pledged to bolster Ukraine’s armored forces.
Australian deliveries
In October 2024, Australia committed to donating 49 M1A tanks.
The Biden administration backed the decision, but the incoming Trump administration expressed concerns that the move could disrupt negotiations with the Kremlin.
Former U.S. Air Force Security Forces agent Christian Orr said Washington believed the transfer “undermined” talks.
He added that “senior U.S. officials were concerned that American tanks could derail the peace talks.”
The tanks were transported from Geelong in May 2025, accompanied by Australian personnel who helped coordinate logistics. They reached Europe and were later transferred into Ukraine.
New units receiving tanks
Militarnyi reported that by August 2025 the 425th Independent Assault Regiment, known as Skala, had received M1 Abrams tanks, likely from Australia.
These were modified before shipment to match Ukraine’s operational requirements.
The M1A1 FEP variant features updated armor, improved optics, upgraded thermal imaging and the standard 120 mm M256 cannon supported by M240 and M2 machine guns.
Its 1,500 horsepower engine allows speeds up to 70 kilometers per hour.
The tanks now serve in select Ukrainian units despite the challenging conditions on the front.
Sources: TASS, Oryx, Associated Press, Military Watch, Militarnyi, Portal O’Bronny.
This article is made and published by Kathrine Frich, who may have used AI in the preparation
