In a sobering assessment reported by Politico, senior Ukrainian military officials have voiced grave concerns over the potential for the country's frontlines to collapse in the ongoing conflict with Russia.
These officers, who served under former Commander-in-Chief General Valerij Zaluzjnyj, paint a grim picture of the situation, highlighting Russia's superior manpower and the effective use of new glide bombs as likely to lead to significant breakthroughs and the crumbling of Ukrainian defenses.
A Dire Prediction
According to these officials, Ukraine is at a severe disadvantage, lacking both the technological solutions and the sheer volume of resources needed to counter the Russian military's might.
"There's nothing that can help Ukraine now because there are no serious technologies to offset the massive troop numbers Russia is likely to throw at us. We don't have the technology, and the Western world does not have it in sufficient quantity," one officer told Politico.
The Power of Defense Will and Russian Mistakes
Despite the daunting outlook, Ukraine's unwavering will to defend itself and errors on the part of Russian commanders are seen as the only glimmers of hope for altering the dire situation.
Recent examples, such as the loss of dozens of Russian tanks and armored vehicles in an ill-conceived assault near Avdijivka, underscore the potential impact of Russian misjudgments.
However, the officers caution against overreliance on enemy mistakes for strategic advantage, noting that the Russian forces are learning and adapting.
Bracing for a Summer Offensive
The Ukrainian military is bracing for a significant Russian offensive expected to unfold in the latter half of the summer. This anticipation has heightened the urgency for Ukraine to secure both advanced and basic weaponry to withstand the assault.
"We need artillery pieces and ammunition. We're talking about hundreds of thousands of shells and rockets," said one officer, emphasizing the critical need for an estimated four million shells and two million drones.
Ukraine's plea to its Western allies is clear: leverage their resources to provide the necessary support. "We've always told our Western partners that we have the combat experience and understanding of how to win this war. But they have the resources and must give us what we need."
