Much of Ukraine’s Soviet-era assets were destroyed or damaged after three months of hostilities, leaving the country looking for Western weapons.
Military and defense industry Ukraine Built on the foundation of the Soviet Union, its weapons apply the same standards as the Russia than its western neighbours.
However, this is gradually changing after three months of hostilities, when most of the standard Soviet equipment in Ukraine’s service is being used up or destroyed in the fighting. “It’s all been wiped out,” said a US official, referring to Soviet-standard equipment in the Ukrainian army’s payroll.
This means that Ukrainian soldiers have to switch to using weapons that are not familiar by Western standards. Ukrainian military units are using and training to operate the equipment America and NATO allies, unnamed US sources revealed on June 9.
M777 artillery pieces donated by the US to Ukraine during a battle in eastern Ukraine in May. Photo: NY Times.
The information comes in the context of Ukrainian officials asserting that their forces can push Russian troops out of the strategic city of Severodonetsk if they receive Western long-range artillery. “As soon as we have long-range artillery to duel with Russian artillery, special forces units can retake the city in 2-3 days,” Serhiy Gaidai, Lugansk governorate, said on June 9.
In the early stages of the war, the West did not want to provide heavy weapons to Ukraine for fear of escalating the conflict with Russia, as well as modern weapons technology falling into the hands of Moscow.
Eastern European countries supplied many standard Soviet weapons, including T-72 tanks and Mi-17 helicopters, to Ukraine during this period. Washington is also leading the effort to find Soviet-era ammunition and spare parts from the stockpile of many countries to deliver to Kiev.
However, as Ukraine’s Soviet-era arsenal is exhausted, the US and its NATO allies are starting to send Kiev a lot of heavy equipment, such as M777 howitzers and M142 HIMARS multiple rocket launchers. However, US officials stressed that the delivery of the HIMARS systems will happen in phases, because the Ukrainian military needs more time to learn how to operate this complex weapon.
President Vladimir Putin warned that Russia would strike new targets if Ukraine received the artillery.
Vu Anh (Follow AFP)
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