Why Ukraine uses Leopard battle tanks as long-range artillery

Lý do Ukraine dùng xe tăng chiến đấu Leopard như pháo tầm xa - 1 — Ukrainian soldiers use a Leopard tank at a training area (Photo: Getty).

AFP reported that Ukraine is using the advanced Leopard tanks it received from Western allies for defensive purposes instead of as assault weapons to penetrate Russian defenses.

The shift has come in the past few weeks, as Ukraine's six-month counter-offensive has failed to make significant progress and Ukraine has now been forced to go on the defensive as Russia escalates its relentless attacks on Kiev's positions.

Therefore, according to AFP, Ukraine must use the tanks deployed along the front line as long-range artillery systems rather than as attack weapons as the Leopard's inherent function.

A soldier from Ukraine's 21st Mechanized Brigade told AFP that the unit's tanks "were not used in the same way as during the counterattack".

The Ukrainian main battle tanks are being used to target ammunition depots and groups of soldiers such as artillery batteries, the person said.

The Leopard 2A6 proved to be suitable for "shoot and run" tactics because it was fast and, more importantly, the tank was equipped with a special gearbox, allowing the vehicle to reach speeds of up to 30km/h when reversing.

However, when it was tasked with breaking through Russian defense lines at the beginning of the counteroffensive, the Leopard did not perform well against minefields and "rain of fire" from the enemy. Ukraine recorded many Leopards destroyed when attacking the enemy's solid defenses.

So Ukraine deploys Leopards or heavy artillery systems in the rear, to support infantry attacks. Not trying to push tanks through dense and risky minefields can help Ukraine preserve its valuable heavy weapons.

Ukraine began counter-offensives in June but has yet to make any major breakthroughs in pushing back Russian forces and regaining territory.

Ukraine's efforts are expected to slow as winter weather sets in and Russia has begun to intensify its attacks in some front areas such as Kupyansk and Avdiivka.

Ukraine's allies agreed to supply Leopard tanks in January, after months of repeated Ukrainian requests.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in August that he wanted the counteroffensive to begin much sooner but Kiev had to wait for more weapons from the West.

This time has allowed Russia to build up formidable defenses that have slowed Ukraine's advance over the past few months, he said.

Earlier this month, Mr Zelensky admitted that the country's counter-offensive had not achieved the expected results, but that Kiev would not give up.

"We will not back down. We are fighting the second strongest army in the world. We wanted faster results, but unfortunately we did not get the results we expected," President Zelensky told the AP news agency on December 1.

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