Ukraine War: Russia launches night attacks
Created: 05/18/2022, 15:50
By: Lukas Zigo
A special forces soldier equipped with night vision goggles and an HK416 assault rifle.
© imago stock & people/Imago Images
Russia uses its numerical superiority for night attacks.
Ukraine is therefore asking for night vision devices and drones.
Kyiv – The Russian offensive in the Donbass region of Ukraine continues to be sluggish.
As the US magazine Foreign Policy reports, the Russian troops are now increasingly relying on attacks at night to overrun the defenders.
Two Ukrainian sources tell the magazine that Ukraine urgently needs night vision drones for counterattacks.
The use of night raids, sometimes accompanied by Russian special forces, has been increased.
This is a sign that the Kremlin is increasingly trying to use its numerical superiority over Kyiv.
The reason for this is the increasing losses on both sides in the flatter terrain in the east of the country.
Speaking to reporters on May 16, a senior US defense official described the battle in Donbass as "a real firefight."
Ukraine has already deployed 74 of the 90 M777 artillery howitzers provided by the US.
Ukrainian presidential adviser: “We need a lot of drones”
"We need a lot of drones, including combat and thermal imaging drones, because a lot happens at night," said Tymofiy Mylovanov, an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and former economy minister.
"Russia counterattacks at night, and sometimes we need that." He said Ukraine could not retaliate without its own night vision goggles.
According to Mylovanov, the Donbass defense forces have enough threats, without imaging capabilities, to fight by day.
At night, however, Russian troops threaten to attack the entire contested area.
Ukraine War News: Increased fighting at night
A senior US defense official spoke on condition of anonymity, according to ground rules laid down by the Pentagon.
According to him, in recent days Russia has begun to focus its efforts in the northern Donbass on the cities of Izyum and Lyman.
The Russian troops have also made small advances west of the city of Donetsk.
However, Ukrainian forces have pushed back Russian troops from Kharkiv, Ukraine's second largest city, to within four kilometers of the border.
Ukrainian officials also reported that Russia fired artillery at Ukrainian positions at night.
However, US deliveries of new M777 howitzers have helped reduce the Russian lead in this regard.
"We have a lot of night attacks," Oleksandra Ustinova, a Ukrainian politician, said in a phone interview.
"The war is 24/7." Ukrainian positions are "pretty good" but Russia is making progress in Luhansk.
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The US has delivered 90 M777 artillery howitzers to Ukraine.
© US Army/Imago Images
News about the Ukraine war: Ukraine does not get the most modern equipment
But Ukraine also has to set priorities.
Drones have been pushed way down a list of weapon requests.
At the top are multiple rocket launchers.
Washington fears that arming Ukraine with certain new systems could escalate the war with Russia.
The USA therefore carefully selects the systems to be supplied.
"There is a huge list of weapons because there hasn't been a war like this since World War II," Ustinova said.
"Would you ask someone if they need a gun or a bulletproof vest?
You need both, but if you have the choice, the weapon naturally has priority." (lz)