If we are just talking about numbers, then on the face of it 50 to 60 modern western tanks in Ukraine is not necessarily a gamechanger. “Psychologically, it is hugely positive for the Ukrainians and negative for the Russians. Photograph: Michael Ciaglo/Getty ImagesĪnd while they point to the south as the most likely theatre for a spring counteroffensive, they caution that Ukraine’s effective employment of misinformation and deception in last year’s fighting make feints and so-called demonstrations likely.Īmong those who have been considering what the new armour arriving in Ukraine may mean for the war is Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, who served as a tank commander with 14th/20th King’s Hussars in the first Gulf war before going on to command the UK’s Joint Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Regiment.įor De Bretton-Gordon, one of the most significant aspects of the accumulating western armour in Ukraine is the psychological aspect. A Javelin missile is fired from a US Stryker infantry carrier vehicle in Fort Carson, Colorado.

Main battle tank comparison