The subterfuge is seemingly in response to the heavy resistance that Kiev’s counteroffensive has met
Some Ukrainian tank crews have been faking malfunctions on their tanks to justify not going into fight towards Russian forces, fellow troopers working German Leopards have advised Spiegel journal.
The revelation was a part of a frontline report printed by the information outlet. The journal spoke to a few German-trained Ukrainian troops, who had been among the many crew members of two Leopard 2A6 tanks supplied to Ukraine by the Bundeswehr.
One among them stated he didn’t blame those that are refusing.
“In the event that they hit the turret, you’re a heap of ashes,” a person recognized as Misha advised Spiegel.
However, the journal praised the capabilities of the German tank, describing it as a “fortress in camo colours.”
One other soldier, nicknamed Gutsik, stated that dodging an engagement altogether was higher than coming into fight solely to tug out after the primary shot, he stated, explaining why he felt no sick will in regards to the ploy.
The scenes described by the journal appeared chaotic and tense, with the Ukrainians struggling losses. A number of the German tanks had been destroyed or broken within the offensive, as was different Western {hardware}.
On one event, two troopers got here to hunt recommendation on how they may kick-start an older Leopard 2A4 that had turn out to be stranded in ‘no-man’s land’ between Ukrainian and Russian positions.
The Spiegel report was based mostly on a dialog that came about a couple of week into Kiev’s counteroffensive towards Russian defensive positions in Zaporozhye Area. It stated the troopers interviewed had been all veterans and among the many most skilled tank operators in Ukraine. All had traveled to Germany to take a five-week course on the way to function the Leopards.
Kiev launched its long-expected counteroffensive this month, hoping to benefit from Western-made weapons, together with essential battle tanks that it beforehand didn’t have, to push again the Russians. Nevertheless, the Russian navy has reported repelling quite a few assaults and inflicting heavy losses on Ukrainian forces.
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