President Volodymyr Zelenskiy of Ukraine announced on Monday that U.S.-made Abrams tanks have made their way to Ukraine, signaling a significant boost to the country's defense capabilities.

In a statement shared on the Telegram messaging app, President Zelenskiy conveyed: "Good news from Minister of Defense Rustem Umerov. Abrams are already in Ukraine and are being prepared to reinforce our brigades." However, specific details regarding the quantity of tanks delivered were not disclosed.

The arrival of these jet-powered American tanks comes after months of anticipation, with Ukraine having strongly advocated for their acquisition. It was only in January that Washington finally offered to supply over 30 of these tanks. European nations had already contributed by sending numerous German-made Leopards and some British Challengers.

This delivery comes nearly four months into Ukraine's extensive offensive campaign aimed at reclaiming territory occupied by Russia. Kyiv has reported steady progress, including the capture of villages and ground that strengthens its position. However, it has not yet achieved a significant Russian retreat, as it did on three occasions the previous year. Moscow, on the other hand, contends that the Ukrainian offensive has already faltered.

Expressing his gratitude to Ukraine's allies, President Zelenskiy remarked: "I am grateful to our allies for fulfilling the agreements! We are looking for new contracts and expanding our supply geography."

Last week, U.S. President Joe Biden had announced that the initial shipment of American Abrams tanks would be delivered to Ukraine during this week.

The M1 Abrams, a third-generation main battle tank, is currently in service with the United States Army and Marine Corps, as well as several other nations including Egypt, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Australia, Poland, and Iraq. It stands as one of the world's heaviest tanks, weighing in at 61.7 tons.

The Abrams boasts formidable firepower with a 120mm M256 smoothbore cannon, making it one of the most potent tank guns in service today. Additionally, it is equipped with a coaxial 7.62mm M240 machine gun and a .50 caliber M2 machine gun mounted on the turret.

For protection, the Abrams utilizes a composite armor system that incorporates depleted uranium, rendering it highly effective against both kinetic and chemical penetrators. The tank also features various survivability enhancements, including a fire suppression system and a nuclear, biological, and chemical (NBC) protection system.

Powering the Abrams is a 1,500-horsepower gas turbine engine, granting the tank a top speed of 42 miles per hour and a range of 265 miles.

Introduced in 1980, the Abrams tank has undergone several upgrades over the years. The current iteration is the M1A2 Abrams, which entered service in 1992. (ILKHA)