Ukrainian officers undergo ‘months’ of tactical tank training in UK, says ex-British Army commander

According to a former British army tank commander, Ukrainian army officers have been undergoing tactical tank training in the UK and Germany for several months now.

Lieutenant General David Leakey, who served with the Royal Tank Regiment, said that he felt that the number of tanks sent in from the West were insufficient and should be used “strongly, not dribbling” to break through the Russian lines.

He urged Ukraine to receive a “full orchestra” of military potential from other countries.

Otherwise, there is a risk that the tanks will be “picked up” by Russian small arms and artillery, said Lieutenant General Leakey, 70, who served as Black Rod for seven years in parliament.

The US will supply 31 M1 Abrams tanks, Germany 14 Leopard 2 tanks and the UK 14 Challenger 2 tanks. President Volodymyr Zelensky has said he needs about 300 tanks to defeat Vladimir Putin’s forces.

All main battle tanks delivered are more powerful than the Soviet T-72s currently used by the Russians and Ukrainians.

So said Lieutenant General Leakey. Heavenly news: “What’s really nice to know is that Ukrainian officers have been trained in both the UK and Germany over the past few months to make sure they know how to use the tanks from a tactical standpoint.”

Last July, the British Army launched a major training program for Ukrainian troops in the UK, led by the 11th Security Assistance Brigade, which aims to train 10,000 troops every 120 days.

But Lieutenant General Leakey added: “The tanks themselves at this stage do not mean anything, except perhaps in defense. A hundred or so tanks won’t give the Ukrainian army the offensive capabilities it needs.

“Tanks alone in small numbers are an excellent means of defense because they are mobile. They have great firepower. You have great flexibility to move around in a defensive position.

“But when attacking in an attack, tanks should be used for hitting, not for dribbling, and 100 will not be enough.

“When the Russians invaded Ukraine just over a year ago, the tanks were surrounded by the Ukrainian army using hand-held anti-tank weapons and artillery.

“They were chosen because they weren’t used in orchestration, along with other military capabilities that allow tanks to make an impact.”

Good reconnaissance and close infantry support are needed to repel small arms attacks and reduce the risk from drones, he said.

Artillery would also be needed to suppress known enemy positions so that tanks and infantry could advance in large numbers.

“If you try to get the tanks through the defensive line, they will just be knocked out, as the Russians realized when they attacked Ukraine last year,” Lieutenant General Leakey added.

Strong logistical lines were needed to supply the tanks with ammunition and fuel, and experienced tank technicians were needed when they went out of action as a reserve.

He added that transporting tanks by train is also risky and expensive, but that their delivery is a clear sign of the Kremlin’s intentions.

“There are two or three really important points. First, it is a political, military signal that he sends to the Russians and Putin that the West is serious about helping Ukraine win this war,” said Lieutenant General Leakey.

“The second point is that it is extremely important that the Ukrainians receive a full orchestra of military capabilities.

“They had good air defense and artillery support. They received a lot of infantry fighting vehicles, although they need them more. The only thing missing is tanks.