Americans fear Trump's re‑election may halt vital Bradley shipments to Ukraine
American M2 Bradley armored vehicles are effectively holding back Russian armed forces, but there is currently fear in Ukraine about Donald Trump's potential return to the White House. The military is concerned that this scenario would leave Kyiv "cut off" from this effective equipment, as reported on The Times website.
7:57 PM EDT, July 29, 2024
The Times notes that "American combat vehicles are keeping the Russians at bay," but it simultaneously questions how long this will last given the upcoming presidential elections in the United States.
Ukrainians fear halting of Bradley support
Ukrainians’ concerns for their future and the duration of the war are primarily tied to the M2 Bradley combat vehicles, which have been praised multiple times over the months for their durability and significant firepower. It’s worth remembering that Bradleys have, in the past, survived attacks from BM-21 Grad launchers, withstood duels with T-72 tanks, continued their mission after driving over mines, and made history in the Ukraine war by heroically rescuing an allied unit from Russian fire.
"Most Russian equipment doesn’t hold up to the Bradley," remarks the Ukrainian agency Unian, which discusses the publication from The Times. It’s no wonder that Ukraine’s armed forces look with great hope towards the USA, which has so far sent over 300 Bradley vehicles to the front. The transfer of most of them happened over several shipments last year, and after more than a year of intense fighting, many Bradley vehicles have been destroyed. The equipment is dwindling, and Trump’s re-election as the President of the USA could deprive Kyiv of supplies of this valuable equipment and its ammunition.
If it weren’t for the Bradley, we wouldn’t be here one hundred percent. If we were driving Soviet-made vehicles, we wouldn’t be here for a long time, said Lakin, a 39-year-old Bradley driver quoted by The Times. Lakin explains that the vehicle he drives has been hit six times, but despite that, it hasn’t been eliminated from combat.
How can we destroy a country of 130 million faster than they destroy our country of 30 million? asked a 29-year-old Bradley driver using the pseudonym "Fox." The Times notes that in the Donbas region, there are ongoing discussions about potentially depriving Ukraine of Bradley support.
"This war will be eternal"
There are also voices suggesting that limiting this support will prolong the war. We can hold back Russia and exhaust them until they realize there’s no point in advancing further, but if America tries to freeze the war, Russians will simply attack again in a few years. This war will be eternal – claims Fox.
It’s worth remembering that Bradley combat vehicles are equipped with an M242 Bushmaster 25 mm cannon, which is effective even against heavily armored units belonging to the Russian Federation. In addition, a 7.62 mm machine gun is installed on the vehicle.
A 500 or 600 horsepower engine, depending on the year of production, guarantees this vehicle's mobility. The engine accelerates the vehicle to 45 mph. The Bradley’s armor combines steel, aluminum, and composites. The exact composition of this mix varies depending on where the vehicle will be used.
