The West has pledged to provide Ukraine with dozens of tanks, including the advanced Abrams model from the United States and the Leopard 2 from Germany. The timing and pace of the arrival of the tanks make it difficult to predict the impact, but Ukrainians know they have already taken a toll on Russia’s own inventories.
Just one year into hostilities in Ukraine, Russia’s fleet of modern tanks is down to about 50% of its pre-invasion volume. International Strategic InstituteIn total, Russia’s stockpile of about 2,200 tanks still far exceeds Ukraine’s 1,000, a figure that will grow with the influx of Western powers.
The institute notes that losses and delays in replenishment have forced the Kremlin to pull old equipment out of storage, a far from ideal scenario for the expected Russian attacks in the coming weeks.
“The need for wartime re-equipment calls into question the direction and durability of Russia’s national armaments program and its future military modernization ambitions,” said Thinkthanks, UK.
development:
► Slovak parliament has declared the Russian regime a terrorist and designated Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism.
>Ukraine announces prisoner exchange with Russia, repatriates 100 soldiers and 1 civilian. Almost all fought in an unsuccessful battle to defend the city of Mariupol in the Donetsk region.
> Russian college student Olesya Krivtsova faces up to 10 years in prison for justifying acts of terrorism and discrediting the Russian military. She was arrested for anti-war postings on her media social media. BBC report.
Weapon Deal Support Fade:U.S. support for waning arms supplies to Ukraine.97% of Russian Armed Forces in Ukraine: Renewal
140,000 Russians killed in ‘special military operation’
Russia has made modest progress on the battlefield in recent weeks, but Western experts say they have paid a high price.
Russia’s death toll in what President Vladimir Putin calls a “special military operation” has reached 140,460 since the full-scale invasion began a year ago, the Ukrainian military chief of staff estimated Thursday. bottom.
According to Ukrainian data, more than 800 Russian soldiers died a day in February.
Western tanks make a difference, but are they “one day behind”?
High-tech Western tanks promised to the Ukrainian Army offer better electronics, mobility and protection, providing an overall military advantage over the T-72 and T-80 tanks that dominate Ukraine. To do. russian armyexperts say.
But is that enough?
“Outperforming Russian tanks in terms of firepower, sighting and navigation systems … we are capable of defeating in one operation all the assault and shock forces that Russia has in the south We have the tools to do it, ”said Viktor Kivliuk, a Ukrainian officer and member of the Ukrainian think tank, the Center for Defense Strategies. Kyiv independence.
But The Independent said these modern tanks, which Ukraine desperately needs, will arrive in a “gradual and piecemeal fashion” that makes it difficult to get the most out of the technology.
“Ukraine remains starved for the aid it needs to win,” said George Barros of the War Research Institute. “We’re a day late and we’re short on weapons.”
EU lawmakers are lobbying for help to send fighter jets to Ukraine
The European Parliament has called for “seriously consideration” of providing Ukraine with fighter planes, helicopters and missile systems, as well as a significant increase in ammunition. The minister strongly condemned Moscow’s aggression and reiterated “unwavering solidarity with the people and leadership of Ukraine.”
Russian aggression and brutal attacks on Ukrainian cities “require bold, brave and comprehensive political, security and financial decisions by the EU,” parliament said in a statement. Zelenskyy has lobbied hard.
The resolution calls on EU member states to adopt a tenth package of sanctions against Russia and its allies by the end of February, significantly expanding its scope. It also calls on the EU, Member States and its allies to take urgent steps to make the sanctions already in place more effective and to thwart attempts to circumvent the restrictions.
Israeli foreign minister visits Kiev
Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen arrives in Kiev to see the suburb of Bucha, where Russian forces massacred more than 450 civilians last year, and Nazis and local collaborators murdered more than 30,000 Jews in September 1941. We visited Babin Yar, a canyon with He plans to meet with Zelensky.
Ukraine and its allies have sought military support from Israel, but the Israeli leadership is reluctant to provoke Russia. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has suggested that Israel has provided military support by attacking Iran’s arms production bases. Israeli airstrikes last month appeared to target Iran’s drone program. Iran sells attack drones to Russia.
Russia hits Ukraine with missiles, drone strikes
Air raid sirens rang across Ukraine on Thursday as Russian drones and missiles hit targets mostly in the north and west of the country, Zelensky’s chief of staff Andriy Yermak wrote in Telegram. Russian attacks typically target the south and east, where most of the fighting is concentrated.
The Ukrainian Air Force said half of the 32 missiles had been intercepted. One woman was killed and at least seven injured in the attack, officials said. Uklenergo, the operator of Ukraine’s battered state energy grid, said the attack would not lead to power outages.
New Russian tactics intended to “overload” Ukrainian air defense systems
Thursday’s attack is the latest sign that Russia is taking a new approach, for both necessity and strategic reasons.
Ukrainian officials said the missile shortage had prompted the Kremlin to become more cautious, adopting diversionary tactics such as deploying decoy missiles without explosive warheads and balloons with reflectors. Such tools can mislead or overwhelm air defenses at a low cost.
“They want to overload their anti-aircraft systems and increase the chances of hitting infrastructure installations,” presidential adviser Mikhail Podlyak told the Associated Press, adding that Ukraine’s defense is adapting to the changes. He added that there are
Podlyak reiterated that Ukraine needs more weapons capable of hitting Russian forces deep in the front lines and ending the conflict more quickly with a much larger enemy better suited to a prolonged war of attrition. rice field.
“A protracted war is Ukraine’s slow death,” he said. “Russia has enough time. Why? They will live in poverty. They will always live like this. They don’t need consolation. They can live in camps.” They can live in isolation.”
Norway becomes one of Ukraine’s largest donors
Norway has announced a five-year, $7.4 billion aid package to Ukraine, fending off claims it is profiting from war-induced energy price hikes. In a video speech, Zelensky thanked the 169-seat Norwegian parliament.
“You are setting a precedent for long-term financial support for a nation that defends its independence,” Zelensky said.
Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said half of the money would finance additional weapons and training for the Ukrainian army and half “civilian aid”.
Norway, an oil and gas rich country with a population of just 5.5 million, has generated billions of dollars in additional revenue over the past year as the conflict in Ukraine pushed up gas prices. It rejected proposals by Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and others that Oslo used the war for its own economic gain.
Contributed by Associated Press
