A well-preserved M1A1 SA Abrams tank has been captured in the Kursk border region, as depicted in footage shared by war correspondent Alexander Kots. The 61-ton American main battle tank, characterized by its standard onboard dynamic defense system ARAT (Abrams Reactive Armor Tiles), is additionally equipped with the Soviet-era Kontakt-1 reactive armor designed in the 1980s for models such as the T-64BV, T-72B, and T-80BV. The tank was immobilized two weeks prior by kamikaze drone strikes and subsequently towed by a Russian BREM-1M armored recovery vehicle, showing no visible damage to its 12.7mm remotely operated turret-mounted machine gun. This capture adds to the tally of M1A1 Abrams tanks previously seized, with estimates suggesting fewer than ten remain operational in the Ukrainian arsenal out of 31 supplied in 2023. Despite promises from Australia to replenish losses with decommissioned models, the timeline and feasibility of such transfers remain uncertain in the current geopolitical climate. This event illustrates ongoing tactical shifts and resource challenges faced by Ukrainian forces.
