In terms of manpower and weapons, numerology looks grim for Ukraine.
Ukraine’s armed forces outnumbered and were defeated by Russia, but when Russia embarks on a large-scale invasion, military experts say they will be able to withstand considerable resistance and cause casualties. heavy.
Ukraine’s military is also better trained and equipped than it was in 2014, when Russia took the Crimean peninsula from Ukraine without fighting, and is seen by many as highly motivated to defend the country’s heartland. country.
Here are some details about the Ukrainian military.
HOW DO THE NUMBERS LOOK?
In terms of manpower and weapons, numerology looks grim for Ukraine.
Most estimates by military experts put the number of Russian troops near Russia’s border with Ukraine at more than 100,000. Russia has also moved some troops to Belarus, north of Ukraine, for exercises.
According to the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), the Russian army has about 280,000 troops and the total armed forces total about 900,000 units, while Ukraine’s 2,840 battle tanks are 3 to 1 more than Ukraine’s. according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) based in London.
The Prime Minister of Ukraine said that a decree just signed by Zelenskiy – on priority measures to strengthen the state’s defense capabilities, increase the attractiveness of military service and gradually transition to the professional army – is finally will increase the armed forces of Ukraine to 361,000 troops.
Although Ukraine has tripled its defense budget in real terms between 2010 and 2020, its total defense spending in 2020 will only amount to $4.3 billion, or one-tenth of that Russia.
Military analysts say Ukraine’s air and anti-missile defenses are weak, making the country very vulnerable to Russian attacks on its vital infrastructure. They say Russia will also seek to use its superiority in electronic warfare to cripple an adversary’s command and control and cut off communications with units on the ground.
HOW ARE UKRAINE’S FORCE EXPERIENCE?
Ukraine’s forces have gained combat experience in the Donbass region in the east of the country, where they have been fighting Russian-backed separatists since 2014, and are highly motivated.
They also have short-range air defense systems and anti-tank weapons, including the US-supplied Javelin missiles, which could help slow Russia’s advance.
In addition to the regular army, Ukraine has volunteer units to defend the territory and about 900,000 reservists. Most adult males have basic military training, so Russia could face stubborn and protracted resistance if it tries to capture and hold territory.
The military challenge will be incomparably higher than in previous wars Russia has fought since the fall of the Soviet Union, including the breakaway battle of Chechnya in the 1990s and against Georgia in 2008.
WHAT DOES THE WEST DO TO HELP UKRAINE’S MILITARY?
Western countries have stepped up arms deliveries to Ukraine, but Kyiv says they need more. The US has ruled out sending US troops to Ukraine to fight.
The United States has provided more than $2.5 billion in military aid since 2014, including Javelin anti-tank missiles, coastal patrol boats, Humvees, sniper rifles, reconnaissance drones, systems radar, night vision equipment and radio. Additional supplies could include Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, small arms and boats.
Turkey has sold Kyiv several batches of Bayraktar TB2 drones that it deployed against Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine.
Britain supplied Ukraine with 2,000 reported short-range anti-tank missiles in January and sent British experts to train. It also supplied Saxon armored vehicles.
Estonia says it has sent Javelin anti-armor missiles, and Latvia and Lithuania are supplying Stinger missiles. The Czech Republic says it plans to provide 152mm artillery shells.
Germany has ruled out delivering weapons to Ukraine but is co-financing a $6 million field hospital and providing training.
IS THE RUSSIA STAGE A FULL SCALE INVESTMENT?
Many military analysts consider this unlikely as it would entail a messy and protracted war with inevitable heavy casualties. They expect Russia to choose to eliminate air strikes and/or limited land grabs rather than all-out war, which includes battles for major cities.
One option is for Russia to push south and west away from the Donbass region in eastern Ukraine, already controlled by pro-Russian forces, to link up Crimea and the annexed Black Sea. It is also possible that the Belarusian army could cross the northern border of Ukraine as part of the offensive.
Putin will likely face public apprehension about waging war with another Slavic nation, as well as intense anti-Russian sentiment in Ukraine. Russia has been punished for moving troops into separatist-controlled areas of Ukraine, and will most likely face much harsher things for a full-blown invasion.
(Except for the title, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from an aggregated feed.)
