What about arms deliveries to Ukraine?
From February 24, 2022 and the announcement by Russian President Vladimir Putin about the invasion of Ukraine, Ukrainians benefited from the first arms shipments from the West.
- Deliveries of small arms between February and March 2022
According to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, between February and March Ukraine will receive more than 40,000 small arms, 17,000 Manpads – portable surface-to-air defense systems – and equipment (25,000 helmets, 30,000 bulletproof vests). , which lists the weapons promised and delivered to Ukraine since the beginning of the war.
Notably, Greece is sending 20,000 AK-47 Kalashnikovs; the United States, 6,000 Manpads, 5,000 Colt M4 carbines and 2,000 Javelin man-portable anti-tank missiles; Sweden, 10,000 Manpads; Czech Republic, 5,000 Vz58 assault rifles and 3,200 Vz59 machine guns.
- Deliveries of howitzers and rocket launchers from April 2022
Against stiff resistance in Kiev and Kharkiv, the Russian army withdrew at the end of March to focus its efforts on the Donbass and southern areas. Artillery shipments (howitzers, rocket launchers, etc.) capable of striking behind enemy lines to reach ammunition stockpiles and block Russian supply chains began in April.
321 howitzers will be delivered by autumn, including 18 French Caesar guns; 120 infantry vehicles; 49 multiple rocket launchers; 24 attack helicopters; more than 1,000 American drones, as well as 280 Soviet tanks sent mainly from Poland, which the Ukrainian army is used to using.
- Deliveries of missile defense systems
Despite retreating into eastern and southern Ukraine, Russia is conducting parallel waves of airstrikes (kamikaze missiles and drones) on energy infrastructure, urban centers and well beyond the front lines. To counteract this, the Ukrainians are demanding missile defense systems. The United States provides eight; UK, six coins; Spain, four pieces; and Germany, one piece.
Washington recently agreed to supply Kiev with its Patriot medium-range surface-to-air missile system, which is considered one of the best anti-aircraft systems in the western armies.
- Long-range tank and missile deliveries
Trench warfare has been spreading in the east in recent months, and Ukraine fears a major Russian offensive with the arrival of conscripts. In this regard, Kiev received heavy and modern Western tanks, which have long been claimed to be able to take the initiative and get out of the war of attrition.
Several Western countries promised to supply them in late January: Washington announced Abrams tanks; London, Challenger 2s; Berlin, Leopard 2s is considered one of the best in the world. Germany’s decision also allowed other countries to promise Leopard 2, including Poland, which sent fourteen copies.
Until now, Kiev had only Soviet tanks and lost many of them. Western tanks are technologically more efficient, equipped with more precise sighting systems, onboard electronics, etc.
On Monday, the first armored deliveries from London, Washington and Berlin were confirmed.
Promised by the United States in early February, long-range GLSDB missiles were also deployed, according to Russian claims not disputed by Kiev. With a range of up to 150 kilometers, Ukraine considers these munitions crucial to launch their next counteroffensive and threaten Russian positions far behind the front lines.