The Ukrainian army’s counter-offensive does not satisfy Western opinion, and given the significant cost in money and especially in lives, there is growing impatience about the benefits of the war effort.
This is not “Russian propaganda” but Western media bell ringing citing officials. An article recently appeared in the Berliner Zeitung, which expressed serious doubts about the effectiveness and usefulness of the counter-offensive in the Monday edition. Headlined “Ukraine Loses War Material: So Many Leopard 2s Are Reportedly Destroyed So Far,” the article argues that “for the past three weeks, Ukraine has been suffering significant military casualties during its now ongoing counteroffensive.” Among other things, several Leopard 2 tanks were lost .”
Citing the US business magazine Forbes, the Berliner Zeitung reports that the June 8 attack by the Ukrainians on a Russian minefield south of Mala Tokmashka was particularly costly. The information contained in the condition indicates that in a matter of minutes the 33rd mechanized brigade and the 47th assault brigade of Ukraine lost three Leopard 2A6 tanks, 16 M-2 infantry fighting vehicles and three Leopard 2 R engineer vehicles.
According to the Dutch platform “Oryx”, which documents the loss of war material on both sides, about 13% of the battle tanks have been destroyed on the Ukrainian side so far, a total of 54 Leopard 2-type battle tanks have been destroyed by Germany, Canada, Spain and Norway and Poland provided.
The author of the article does not hesitate to put these facts in their context and the contrast between the hopes that the West has in the counter-offensive and overall investment alongside the Ukrainians on the one hand, and the reality afterwards on the other show up a few weeks.
He writes: “With great expectations, western states have delivered main battle tanks and infantry fighting vehicles to Ukraine, hoping that the use of these war machines could bring significant gains on the territory.” About a month after the start of Ukraine’s summer offensive, there is a certain disillusionment.”
“Sobering” results
Both Kiev and its western allies had relied on the use of these German-made, third-generation main battle tanks to gain decisive battlefield advantages in the counter-offensive launched a month ago.
But it turns out that not using them makes them vulnerable to the Russian opponent, which adds to many other disappointments. That cost lives and money, the Berliner Zeitung comments and recalls that the federal government provided around 5.4 billion euros for military support to Ukraine in 2023.
A very generous framework, which will be added to the two billion euros in 2022, and commitment appropriations of around 10.5 billion euros for the coming years.
The journalist’s remark is clearly aimed at making the German government think twice before giving in to the wishes of the Ukrainian army, which, through its Deputy Foreign Minister Andriy Melnyk, asked to send more combat vehicles to Berlin two weeks ago.
Germany is second only to the presence of military vehicle maker Rheinmetall in the country among NATO countries supplying weapons in support of Ukraine’s war effort.
In addition, Rheinmetall-Werke has been commissioned to deliver 14 more Leopard 2 main battle tanks. The deal, signed in June and funded by Denmark and the Netherlands, reported business daily Handelsblatt, citing NATO sources. A few weeks earlier, the British had decided to deliver long-range Storm Shadow missiles to Kiev.
Moscow described the measure as “extremely hostile” and accused London of “continuing to inundate Ukraine with weapons and causing a serious deterioration in the situation”. The ineffectiveness of this military equipment in the hands of the Ukrainian armed forces is costing the West, which can hardly hide its disappointment.
Biden administration officials said they found the results of the first two weeks of Ukraine’s counteroffensive “sobering.” The trend was confirmed by the American media Bloomberg, according to which the West recognized Ukraine’s heavy losses.
Meanwhile, Politico newspaper, citing government sources in Washington, said additional aid to Kiev would depend on the success of the counteroffensive.