Russian accounts on Telegram have reported that a group of Ukrainian tanks are advancing towards the Kursk region. While the observers have been no strangers to cross-border attacks on Ukraine with long-range munitions and helicopters to hit military or logistic assets, a ground-based cross-border attack would be something new if true.
While Ukraine does not have sufficient numbers to occupy Russia's border regions, a portion of the Russian ground presence can be diverted to the attacked regions, which can help the other Ukrainian forces regain control with a weakened Russian presence.
Ukraine's MBTs consist of self-upgraded T-62 and T-64 variants and the more modern T-84 Oplot. In early 2024, the Ukrainian tank fleet received considerable support by donating M1 Abrams, Challenger 2, and Leopard 2 MBTs from NATO countries. Some of the donated tanks were modified with explosive-reactive armour blocks (ERA) to improve protection against ATGMs.
