Ukrainian National Guard units are now receiving German-made Leopard tanks as part of a major tactical overhaul in how Ukraine deploys its armored forces, according to Forbes.
According to Forbes, this strategic shift comes after Ukraine lost more than 1,000 tanks to Russian drone attacks, forcing military leaders to completely reimagine tank warfare for the drone-dominated battlefield.
“They have already proven their effectiveness in combat conditions,” Gen. Oleksandr Pivnenko, commander of Ukraine’s National Guard, said about the Leopard tanks. “They combine high mobility, firepower and reliability, which are critical on the modern battlefield.”
Ukrainian military planners now recognize that tanks must operate entirely differently to survive. Forbes reports that tank crews must remain “extremely cautious” – concealing vehicles in barns, garages, or specialized bunkers, emerging only briefly to strike before rapidly retreating to cover.
“Ghost tank” doctrine emerges as Ukraine adapts to drone threat
In September, David Kirichenko, an analyst with the Center for European Policy Analysis, defined this strategy overhaul as a new “era of the cautious tank.”
Ukraine’s reform involves:
- Cut four large tank teams (some had up to 100 tanks each)
- Spread tanks to form small, fierce 30-tank teams with foot troops
- Switched tanks from main strike force to skilled support tools
- Forged a lean, mean tank corps built to beat Russia’s drone threats
This tactical shift transforms tanks from assault spearheads into precision support weapons. Ukraine is effectively creating a leaner, more nimble tank corps specifically engineered to survive in drone-saturated combat zones.
This reorganization means tanks will play more of a supporting role rather than leading assaults. Ukraine is creating a smaller tank corps better suited for drone warfare.
Forbes noted the changes also help address Ukraine’s shortage of infantry. By sending fewer recruits to tank school, more can be trained as infantry soldiers.
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High-tech German tanks face battlefield challenges
Ukrainian media have reported problems with the German tanks. The Leopard 2 models have proven vulnerable to drone strikes. Their complex design made battlefield repairs difficult, often requiring transport to specialized repair facilities in western Ukraine or even Poland.
David Axe previously reported that Ukrainian forces increasingly hide armored vehicles in underground bunkers to protect them from drones.
Russian drones have been deployed in large numbers on the Ukraine front. Russia army launches over 1,300 drones monthly, sometimes exceeding 2,000, often using swarms that include many decoys to overwhelm Ukrainian air defenses.
