"US to Send 'Soviet-Made' Tanks to Ukraine in Cooperation with Allies"

On the 31st of last month (local time), a Ukrainian soldier is firing a rifle from a frontline trench east of Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city. After Russia announced a reduction in military activities within Ukraine, airstrikes and shelling have reportedly concentrated on four areas: the capital Kyiv, northern Chernihiv, Izium south of Kharkiv, and the Donbas region.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] The United States is reportedly set to assist in transporting Soviet-era tanks in cooperation with allied countries at the request of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. This marks the first time the U.S. has provided tank support in the war, now entering its sixth week.

According to the New York Times (NYT) on the 1st (local time), a U.S. government official who requested anonymity stated that the Biden administration will soon transport Soviet-era tanks in cooperation with allied countries to bolster Ukrainian forces in the eastern Donbas region.

The official explained that this decision was made to assist in transporting Soviet-era tanks available for use by the Ukrainian military at President Zelensky's request. However, the official did not disclose which countries' tanks or how many would be transported.

The official added that the tanks would be capable of long-range shelling of Russian targets in the Donbas (Donetsk and Luhansk) region.

Earlier, President Zelensky urged the U.S. and Europe to provide not only anti-tank and anti-aircraft weapons, which have been supplied so far, but also aircraft and tanks.

If the tanks arrive, it is expected that the Ukrainian forces will fiercely resist Russian attacks, potentially becoming a significant factor in the currently stalled front lines. Russia recently announced a reduction in military operations in northern regions such as Kyiv (Kiyev) and a focus on the complete liberation of the eastern Donbas region.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.