BERLIN, February 27. /TASS/. The Ukrainian armed forces lost over 20 German-made Leopard tanks during the summer counter-offensive alone, 7 of them - near the settlement of Rabotino, says an article by the Sueddeutsche Zeitung.
According to the newspaper, the Leopards were presented as a "wonder weapon" even before Germany shipped them to Ukraine. Now, the Leopard has become "almost a problem" for the Ukrainian forces.
"Ukraine received approximately 230 Leopard-1 and Leopard-2 tanks, 38 of them - from Germay. However, during the disappointing summer counteroffensive, many of them got stuck in the Russian defense: over 20 were either destroyed or abandoned, 7 of them - in Rabotino alone," the newspaper says.
According to the Sueddeutsche Zeitung, Germany "closely monitors" losses of Leopard in Ukraine. Meanwhile, some German politicians note that only a small number of these machines are currently engaged in combat, including due to the fact that the Ukrainian cannot maintain them properly.
One Ukrainian commander disclosed that Russian drones present a serious threat for the Leopards. A constant threat from above exhausts the crew, he said, according to the newspaper.
"This is a psychological problem. Many tank drivers feel fear," he said.
Germany is the second-largest supplier of weapons to Ukraine after the US. Russia has repeatedly said that shipments of Western weapons to Ukraine only prolong the conflict.