Ukraine is shifting to a defensive strategy to “buy time” until more Western weapons and ammunition arrive at the front. Specifically, by ceding some territory, Ukraine has retreated to better-defended positions.
Ukrainian soldiers await orders to open fire on Russian positions on the front line in the Kharkiv region, May 19. Photo: AP
New weapons and ammunition have been arriving on the front lines since US President Joe Biden signed a massive aid package in April. But it will take weeks to months for Ukraine to fully replenish its depleted artillery stocks.
"It takes time to load the ships across the Atlantic. But we are already seeing the results. The Russian artillery advantage at the beginning of the year was 7 to 1, but now it has reduced to 5 to 1," said Ukraine's Deputy Defense Minister Ivan Havryliuk. He said that to counter Russia's air power, Ukraine needs at least 130 F-16 fighter jets, which he expects to receive by the end of this year and early next year.
Ukrainian Brigade 110 spokesman Ivan Sekach said they began receiving small amounts of new artillery shells less than a month ago. The 110th Brigade is fighting near the Russian-controlled village of Ocheretyne.
The new supplies have boosted the unit’s reserves by 75 percent since last winter, when supplies were so low that the army had no choice but to retreat to save lives. “We need four times that amount to operate without counting every shell and prioritizing what to hit,” he said.
The defensive strategy of buying time contrasts with the nine-month battle for the salt-mining city of Bakhmut, where Ukrainian troops suffered heavy casualties as they tried to hold out.
“We also have to spread out our positions and logistics. We are doing it much smarter now,” said Mr. Sekach, but also appeared not to be complacent about Russia’s current battlefield advantage.
The main Russian offensive in the Donetsk region is focused on the areas around Avdiivka and the town of Chasiv Yar. If Chasiv Yar falls, neighboring cities will be at risk, Ukraine's vital supply lines will be compromised, and Russia could move closer to its stated goal of controlling the entire Donetsk region.
Russia now has about 650,000 troops in Ukraine, nearly five times the 140,000 it had there two years ago. Russia’s tactical changes have also been effective, forcing Ukrainian forces to use more artillery. Ukrainian commanders say Russian signal jamming along the frontline has reduced the effectiveness of Ukrainian attack drones.
Ngoc Anh (according to AP)
Source: https://www.congluan.vn/ukraine-chuyen-sang-phong-thu-cau-gio-de-cho-vien-tro-tu-phuong-tay-post299495.html
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