KYIV (AFP) -Almost a year after invading Ukraine, Russian forces are seizing the moment by overwhelming Ukraine’s defenses before the new weapons promised by the West are deployed. According to Ukrainian military intelligence, the Ukrainian army is having trouble holding the line against her 320,000 Russian soldiers currently massing in the Donbass region, using outdated equipment.
Amid intermittent artillery fire, Ukrainian troops are using heavy equipment to dig new trenches a few kilometers from the eastern city of Bakhmut. Russian forces are slowly gaining ground in the region in a near-suicidal, World War I-style frontal assault backed by well-equipped Wagnerian mercenaries. The Ukrainian Armed Forces add a dependable defense. Western armor will not arrive until late spring or summer, so Kiev’s troops will have to arm themselves with Soviet-era equipment to protect the front lines.
Alexandre Vautravers, Editor-in-Chief of Revue Militaire Suisse, explains that Western tanks can attack enemies from a greater distance and more easily cooperate with other infantry and artillery units on the battlefield. Vautravers is a Swiss colonel and former deputy commander of a tank brigade, with practical experience with such weapons.
But Western tanks are unlikely to be the silver bullet to drive the Russians out of Igor’s front line. The company commander ranks anti-tank mines as one of the biggest threats in the region. This is not even Western tanks are invulnerable. Defense lines in the area include deep trenches, concrete obstacles, and minefields, in addition to concentrated artillery and anti-tank missiles.
The Donbass front is reinforced with air defense systems and MANPADS (portable air defense systems). Pilots explain that the higher they go, the more likely they are to be hit by enemy surface-to-air missiles.Almost a year after invading Ukraine, Russian forces are seizing the moment by overwhelming Ukraine’s defenses before the new weapons promised by the West are deployed. According to Ukrainian military intelligence, the Ukrainian army is having trouble holding the line against her 320,000 Russian soldiers currently massing in the Donbass region, using outdated equipment.
Amid intermittent artillery fire, Ukrainian troops are using heavy equipment to dig new trenches a few kilometers from the eastern city of Bakhmut. Russian forces are slowly gaining ground in the region in a near-suicidal, World War I-style frontal assault backed by well-equipped Wagnerian mercenaries. The Ukrainian Armed Forces add a dependable defense. Western armor will not arrive until late spring or summer, so Kiev’s troops will have to arm themselves with Soviet-era equipment to protect the front lines.
Alexandre Vautravers, Editor-in-Chief of Revue Militaire Suisse, explains that Western tanks can attack enemies from a greater distance and more easily cooperate with other infantry and artillery units on the battlefield. Vautravers is a Swiss colonel and former deputy commander of a tank brigade, with practical experience with such weapons.
But Western tanks are unlikely to be the silver bullet to drive the Russians out of Igor’s front line. The company commander ranks anti-tank mines as one of the biggest threats in the region. This is not even Western tanks are invulnerable. Defense lines in the area include deep trenches, concrete obstacles, and minefields, in addition to concentrated artillery and anti-tank missiles.
The Donbass front is reinforced with air defense systems and MANPADS (portable air defense systems). Pilots explain that the higher they go, the more likely they are to be hit by enemy surface-to-air missiles.
Mikhail sits behind him. This Soviet-era model doesn’t have modern laser-guided ammunition, so you’ll need to fly closer to enemy positions. Mikhail sits behind him. This Soviet-era model doesn’t have modern laser-guided ammunition, so you’ll need to fly closer to enemy positions.
“The Hind’s specs say it shouldn’t fly below 20 meters. But if you climb above 10 meters, it can be detected by handheld radar, so it’s usually 5 meters above the ground. It only flies,” says Mikhail. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian military is eyeing what they call “trophies”: Russian armored vehicles that have been confiscated and repurposed after being abandoned by their crews. Visited a secret military factory in a secret location outside Kharkov. There, a machinist works around the clock to restore it to working order.
His BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicle with broken tracks lies rusting in the corner. Serves as a reserve for spare parts. Already he has helped breathe new life into two similar models, according to mechanics officials. In a small courtyard there are several Russian tanks with the letter “Z” still on their armor. Several Soviet-era tanks captured by the Ukrainian army are waiting to be sent back to the battlefield against their former owners, Russia. Notice that the letter “Z” is still visible on the cannon.
Ironically, over 500 tanks have been captured since the invasion began, making Russia the first foreign country to supply tanks to Kiev. But Ukraine’s hopes of recapturing occupied territories remain anchored in its long-awaited future arsenal of Western-supplied weapons.
