Australian Abrams Tanks of the Skelia Regiment Baptized in Fire in Pokrovsk

Ukrainian M1A1 Abrams tanks donated by Australia received additional anti-drone protection and participated in a battle in Pokrovsk.

The video was published by the 425th Separate Assault Regiment Skelia, which is in service with them.

Additional passive protection and screens with dynamic protection in the form of Kontakt-1 units were installed on the tank’s turret, upper frontal area and sides.

The tank also has a “hood” made of fishing nets to protect it from FPV drones.

The video also shows a Ukrainianized control panel inside the Abrams. This should reduce the training time for Ukrainian tankers, most of whom do not speak English.

The Skelia regiment has already used tanks in combat, including covering the retreat of assault groups in the city of Pokrovsk.

Australia has recently completed the transfer of M1A1 Abrams main battle tanks to Ukraine as part of its military assistance.

The combat vehicles, accompanied by five Australian Armed Forces personnel, set sail for Europe in October on a commercial cargo ship.

The last 12 tanks were delivered over the past two weeks, while the first 37 Australian Abrams arrived in Ukraine in July this year.

Militarnyi pteviously reported that Australia will provide Ukraine with M1A1 tanks as part of a new military aid package worth $245 million.

In total, Australia has transferred 49 M1A1 tanks to Ukraine, which the Australian Army used between 2007 and 2024 as part of two armored regiments.

In addition, as part of the modernization to the SA version, the Australian Department of Defense ordered additional protection kits in the form of M19 dynamic protection units. It is not known whether they were delivered with the tanks.