The Ukrainian counteroffensive in the war with Russia? Slowly because of the USA. To say that it is so American General Mark Arnold who, unlike his colleagues who blame Kiev alone, points the finger at the United States for the slowness with which the Ukrainian armed forces’ offensive is progressing. A former senior special forces officer, now retired, a veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan, he also conducted several missions in Ukraine to provide advice to Kiev forces at his own expense.
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Arnold had predicted that decisive breakthroughs for future victory were unlikely this year. Breakthroughs, he explained, “can only come next summer, when most of the equipment necessary for the maneuvers will be delivered by NATO countries.”. Because the Ukrainians “lack the mobility necessary to break through densely mined and obstacle-strewn fields.” They also don’t have enough tanks. “If you add up all the Bradleys, the Leopard 2s and the Challenger 2s, it makes a brigade. And they only have six battalions trained by NATO out of the 350 that make up the ground forces. “That’s not enough,” he stressed.
For the general, the Ukrainians also lack air superiority: “The American military should be under pressure to deliver significantly better results. So the Ukrainians’ progress is still positive.” Next year, among other things, the production of 155 mm ammunition in the USA will increase from the current 24,000 per month to at least 80,000 per month. The Ukrainians will then also have M-1 tanks and F-16 aircraft. As well as the experience gained with this offensive.
“If the Biden administration is interested in ending this war, it must provide long-range weapons (Army tactical missile systems, Harpoon anti-ship missiles, Reaper drones, F-16), plus M113, Bradley and Abrams armored vehicles and training“, concludes the general.
However, now it isUkraine claims new territorial gains in the eastern Donetsk region around the city of Bakhmut. Last week, Ukrainian forces liberated another three square kilometers in the Bakhmut area, Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar wrote on Telegram today. The total area around the city recovered since the start of the Ukrainian counteroffensive is now 47 square kilometers, he said.
In addition, over the past ten days, Kiev’s forces have steadily gained ground towards the south, in the Zaporizhzhia region. In particular, according to Ukrainian military leaders, the first Russian defense line, the main barrier erected by Moscow troops, was overcome. Ukrainian units would now be in areas where the enemy urgently needs to deploy reserves from Russia and other areas of Ukraine to cushion the situation.