As of: April 3, 2024, 2:15 p.m
By: Natascha Berger
Comments
Press
Split
Ukrainian armed forces are coming under increasing pressure in the war against Russia. High-ranking generals fear a collapse of the front and express their disappointment with the West.
Kiev – Ukraine has been fighting the Russian invasion for over two years. In recent weeks, the Ukrainian armed forces have repeatedly reported losses on the Russian side due to successful counterattacks, for example on the Dnipro River. Various attacks on Russian territory also weakened the economy under President Vladimir Putin.
But despite innovative drone technology and fighting spirit, high-ranking generals in the Ukrainian army are now painting a bleak picture of the war in Ukraine - and criticizing a lack of support from the USA and Europe.
Ukrainian military officers predict collapse on front lines
The Ukrainian armed forces have long been lacking artillery ammunition in the war against Russia. But military aid from the USA continues to be blocked by Republicans in Congress, and EU promises have also not been kept. President Volodymyr Zelensky warned a few days ago that without US support, the Ukrainian armed forces will have to withdraw. But as high-ranking Ukrainian officers now
report anonymously to
Politico , even military aid from the United States would no longer change the situation on the fronts.
Ukrainian military officers paint a bleak picture of the situation at the front. Is there a risk of collapse? © IMAGO/Stanislav Krasilnikov
“There is nothing that can help Ukraine now,” is the bleak scenario. Russia's missile and drone attacks have increased sharply in recent weeks. Because of the many locations, it would be difficult to guess where the main attack of the offensive expected in the summer will come. Wherever the Russian soldiers would attack, there would be a risk that the front lines would collapse. The higher number of Russian armed forces and the military equipment of the aggressors enabled Russia to “break through the front line and destroy it in some places.” The Ukrainian generals told
Politico
: The only thing that could change the dynamic now is “Ukrainian courage and resilience as well as mistakes by Russian commanders.”
Gloomy scenario for the Ukrainian front: Western support in the fight against Russia came too late
In addition to the bleak picture of a collapse of the front lines, the military officers in the US daily also criticize the West's hesitation. Deliveries were delivered too late and in insufficient numbers. Although cruise missiles, Storm Shadow or SCALP, for example, had been used successfully, the Russian armed forces quickly refined their own tactics. According to the high-ranking generals, weapons systems only come “when they are no longer relevant”. As an example, he cites the F-16 fighter jets, which would have been necessary in 2023 but are now scheduled to arrive this summer.
Ukrainian officers emphasize that Russia's warfare should not be underestimated. The fact that Putin is “simply throwing troops into the meat grinder” is only partly true. Russia learns quickly and outpaces weapons systems very quickly. “We have been telling our Western partners all along that we have the combat experience, we have the combat understanding of this war. “They have the resources and have to give us what we need,” says one of the officers.
(nbe)