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Australia has sent Ukraine the first batch of dozens of U.S.-built M1A1 Abrams tanks that it had promised Kyiv for its fight against Russian aggression, according to the Defense Ministry in Canberra.

Ukraine’s ally in the South Pacific announced that Kyiv had received the majority of the 49 decommissioned tanks it had pledged, with the rest scheduled to arrive later this year.

The delivery follows reported delays due to initial resistance from the U.S. about the American vehicles.

An Australian army M1A2 Abrams tank is loaded onto U.S Army Vessel Paulus Hook in Townsville, Australia, on July 19. An Australian army M1A2 Abrams tank is loaded onto U.S Army Vessel Paulus Hook in Townsville, Australia, on July 19. Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images

Why It Matters

Australia is one of Ukraine’s largest non-NATO partners and has been supplying Kyiv with assistance, ammunition and defense equipment since the beginning of the war. The delivery of main battle tanks could be a battlefield boost for Ukraine as it awaits further pledges of military support from U.S. President Donald Trump.

What To Know

Australia is providing 49 Abrams tanks to Ukraine to help its fight against Russia as part of a pledge it made in October.

The delivery was delayed because of objections from the U.S., the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported, citing unnamed defense officials.

Washington had warned Canberra against sending the tanks, and Trump’s decision to pause military aid earlier this year may also have added to complications, according to the Australian outlet.

Experts have voiced concerns about their battlefield effectiveness due to the vulnerabilities of the tank’s roof to drones.

However, the Australian Defense Ministry said on Friday that most of the tanks had been shipped to Ukraine, adding to the mobility and firepower of Kyiv’s forces. The rest are set to arrive in the coming months.

Ukraine also awaits additional military aid pledged by Trump on July 7, when he unveiled a plan to funnel weapons to Ukraine via a NATO- and EU-backed program.

Retired U.S. Vice Admiral Robert Murrett told Newsweek that Washington’s decision to provide more arms to Ukraine mostly through European allies was a good step, although the Kremlin is still convinced that conditions on the ground are working in its favor.

Despite high Russian losses, Moscow is not interested in a ceasefire, in spite of Kyiv’s willingness to accept such a move, added Murrett, the deputy director at Syracuse University’s Institute for Security Policy and Law.

He continued, “Both sides are likely to sustain the fight, and keep a close eye on arms, prospective additional sanctions and military activity in the skies and front lines in Ukraine.”

What People Are Saying

Australian Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said: “The M1A1 Abrams tanks will make a significant contribution to Ukraine’s ongoing fight against Russia’s illegal and immoral invasion.”

Australian Defense Industry Minister Pat Conroy said: “These modified M1A1 Abrams tanks will deliver more firepower and more mobility to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.”

What Happens Next

Australia said it would ship the rest of the Abrams tanks to Ukraine later this year.

Kyiv also awaits other U.S. weapons. The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday that its next Patriot air defense system, promised by Trump, would be sent to Germany rather than Switzerland to speed up its transfer to Ukraine.

The Australian government has officially handed over the first batch of M1A1 Abrams tanks to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

This was reported on the website of the Australian Department of Defense.

This batch is part of a military aid package worth approximately $245 million. In total, Australia will provide Ukraine with 49 tanks in response to a direct request from the Ukrainian government.

The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine also noted that most of those tanks had already arrived in Ukraine, and the rest would be delivered in the following months.

Australian M1A1 Abrams tanks. Australia. 2018. Photo credits: Australian Army/Facebook

According to Australian Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles, Abrams tanks “play an important role in enhancing the mobility and firepower of Ukrainian forces fighting Russia’s illegal and immoral invasion.”

It should be noted that earlier Australian media reported that the delivery of Australian tanks to Ukraine had been delayed. The reasons for the delays were cited as both lengthy US approvals for the transfer of tanks and the shutdown of the logistics center in Poland in February 2025.

Nevertheless, the tanks were delivered and will complement the armored fleet of the Ukrainian Defense Forces.

In addition, Australia is also planning to send an E-7A Wedgetail long-range radar detection aircraft from the Royal Australian Air Force to Europe in August to strengthen the protection of important air routes that deliver aid to Ukraine.

At the same time, the Australian military continues to train Ukrainian soldiers as part of the multinational Operation Kudu mission.

An E-7A Wedgetail airborne surveillance aircraft from the 2nd Squadron of the Royal Australian Air Force. Photo credits: RAAF

Despite Australia’s distance from Ukraine, the government is fully aware of the difficult situation the Ukrainian state is in.

“The delivery of Abrams is part of Australia’s unwavering commitment to justice, peace and the protection of global order,” said Australian Defense Minister Pat Conroy.

Earlier, Militarnyi reported that the President had thanked the Australian leader for supporting Ukraine and emphasized that Abrams tanks were already helping soldiers defend the country.

✕ Close Zelensky thanks Trump after US president threatens Putin with sanctions if no peace in Ukraine in 50 days

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Multiple cities in Ukraine were targeted by Russian drone attacks overnight, killing one in the Black Sea port of Odesa.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said over 300 drones and 30 missiles had been launched at Ukraine, with the Donetsk, Kirovohrad, Dnipro, Sumy, Kherson, Volyn, Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv, Odesa, and Zhytomyr among the regions affected.

Odesa mayor Hennady Trukhanov said at least 20 drones converged on the city early on Saturday, setting ablaze at least one multi-storey apartment building and killing one resident.

Pictures posted online showed a fire engulfing floors near the top of one building as Zelensky said six people – including a child – were injured in the attack.

Moscow’s mayor also said 13 drones had been downed or destroyed by Russian air defences overnight near the city. In a separate post, Russia’s Defence Ministry said it had downed 87 Ukrainian drones in different areas across Russia in a period of nearly five hours.

Meanwhile, Kyiv’s European allies have welcomed the EU’s 18th sanctions package targeting Moscow’s oil and gas industry.

When asked about the sanctions, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Russia had built a certain immunity to Western sanctions and adapted to them.

Reuters reports.

According to Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles, Ukraine has already received most of the 49 tanks provided by Australia, with the remainder to be delivered in the coming months.

Marles stated that the M1A1 Abrams tanks would play an important role in supporting Ukraine’s ongoing resistance against Russia’s unlawful and unjust invasion.

The government noted that the tanks are part of a 1.5 billion Australian dollar package of military aid to Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion.

It is noted that Australia has also banned the export of alumina and aluminum ores, including bauxite, to Russia, and imposed sanctions on about 1,000 Russian individuals and legal entities.

Russian overnight attacks continued Saturday with targets hit in Odesa and Sumy State Emergency Service of Ukraine/REUTERS

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia launched some 300 drones and 30 missiles in overnight attacks on Ukraine.

One person was killed in the port city of Odesa and critical infrastructure was damaged in northeastern Sumy.

Russia said its air defenses were able to down more than a dozen drones headed for Moscow overnight as well as more than 80 others in different parts of the country.

Australia said it is delivering 49 US-made Abrams M1A1 tanks to Ukraine as it defends itself against Russia’s “illegal and immoral invasion.”

Below is a roundup of news and analysis on Russia’s war in Ukraine from July 19, 2025:

Australia delivering Abrams tanks to Ukraine

Australia’s government has said it is in the process of delivering 49 US-made Abrams M1A1 tanks to Ukraine.

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The tanks, worth $160 million (€138 million), are part of a $980 million Australian military aid package for Kyiv.

Ukraine has already received a number of the tanks with the rest scheduled to arrive over the coming months.

Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles said, “The M1A1 Abrams tanks will make a significant contribution to Ukraine’s ongoing fight against Russia’s illegal and immoral invasion.”

Australia is one of Ukraine’s biggest non-NATO supporters, supplying aid, ammunition and military equipment. Canberra has also banned the export of all alumina and aluminum ore — including bauxite — to Russia, as well as sanctioning some 1,000 Russian individuals and entities.

Overnight Russian attacks kill one, damage critical infrastructure

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday said that Russian forces had fired some 300 drones and 30 missiles overnight.

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The tirade killed one person in the port city of Odesa and damaged critical infrastructure in the northeastern city of Sumy.

Zelenskyy posted a video and pictures of flaming buildings and firefighters to his Telegram account , writing that the attacks in Sumy had knocked out power to thousands of homes in the region.

The mayor of Odesa, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, said a high-rise in the city had been engulfed in flames and that emergency services and firefighters were battling fires and searching for injured citizens.

“Odesa was attacked by enemy strike drones — more than 20 UAVs approached the city from different directions,” wrote Odesa Mayor Gennadiy Trukhanov on Telegram.

“Civilian infrastructure was damaged as a result of the attack. A residential high-rise building is on fire,” added the mayor.

Russia says it downed dozens of Ukrainian drones

Russia’s Defense Ministry on Saturday said it had successfully downed 87 Ukrainian drones over central, western and southern parts of the country, with 48 downed near the Ukrainian border in Bryansk.

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Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin also said that air defenses had down 13 drones headed for the capital had been downed after midnight.

Sobyanin said that specialists were examining fragments where they hit the ground.

Welcome to our coverage

Welcome to DW’s coverage of the latest developments in Russia’s war in Ukraine.

This Saturday, we start with another massive Russian air assault

In Russia, authorities say they downed more than 80 Ukrainian drones, a dozen of which were headed for the capital Moscow.

Russia has seemingly increased its barrage against Ukraine amid faltering attempts by US President Donald Trump to secure a ceasefire deal.

Stay tuned for more news and analysis