There are no ammunition and skilled troops: the state of the Armed Forces has deteriorated significantly - WP
About it reports the American edition of The Washington Post in the material for March 13. According to journalists, the quality of the Armed Forces, which was previously considered a significant advantage over the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, deteriorated significantly a year after the full-scale Russian-Ukrainian war.
Many of the most experienced fighters came from the battlefield, which made some Ukrainian officials doubt Ukraine in the readiness of Ukraine to start a long -awaited spring offensive. The US and the EU have estimated that 120,000 Ukrainian soldiers were killed or injured during the full -scale war, while Russia lost 200,000 soldiers. At the same time, the Russian Federation has a large army and a 140 million population, in which one could mobilize some of the men.
The WP notes that the influx of inexperienced conscripts involved in replenishing losses has changed the profile of the Ukrainian forces. In addition, the Armed Forces fighters suffer from a lack of ammunition, including artillery shells and mortars. Such gloomy grades spread tangible, though unspoken, pessimism from the front line to the corridors of power in Kiev, journalists write.
"Ukraine's inability to carry out such an advertised counter -offensive will cause a new criticism against the US and their European allies, which have been waiting for too long until the forces have deteriorated to deepen training programs and provide combat armored vehicles," the publication said. At the same time, the current situation on the battlefield cannot reflect the full picture.
The US representative, under anonymity, said that Kiev is preparing troops for the future counter -offensive separately and intentionally retaining them from current battles, in particular from the defense of Bakhmut. OP OP Andriy Yermak, for his part, said that Ukraine had not exhausted its potential and expressed optimism in the future of the counter -offensive of the troops. "I do not think we have exhausted our potential.
I think there is a moment in any war when we need to prepare new frames, which is happening now," he added. It remains unclear how much Western military support and training of the Ukrainian military inclies the scales of Libra in favor of Ukraine, given the exhaustion, which is becoming more and more tangible. A high -ranking Ukrainian official said that the number of tanks promised by the event is "symbolic".
Other Ukrainian interlocutors are not sure that the promised supply will be delivered to the battlefield on time. "I do not believe in a big counter -offensive for us. I would like to believe, but I look at resources and ask," At the expense of what? " Representative of Ukraine.
For his part, the commander of the Land Forces Alexander Sirsky said in an interview with the publication that the victory of Ukraine is possible by the end of the year, if Kiev receives all the promised assistance from the event. American officials noted that the offensive of Ukraine will probably begin in late April or early May.
They added that they are acutely aware of the need to supply weapons to Kiev, because a long war can be in favor of Russia, which has more people, money and opportunities for weapons. We will remind, on March 9, the edition of The Economist reported that the Ukrainian army continues to transform, while the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation is in a miserable state. The Armed Forces fighters are currently training for further offensive.