NYT: Russia Advances Behind Brutal Barrage, but Will Its Strategy Keep Working?

Russia’s destructive strategy based on long-range artillery is suitable for the plains of eastern Ukraine. In addition, shorter supply chains in the region also play in Russia’s favor. However, this strategy may not work in other parts of Ukraine. It is not yet clear how far the Kremlin despot  intends to go in his offensive, nor how many losses in manpower and equipment his army can sustain before it needs a long pause to recuperate.

Kyiv often calls for increased Western supplies of weapons and ammunition. Some types of equipment, such as HIMARS artillery installations, were successfully used at the front. But long-term Ukrainian success requires significantly more weapons.

“There is a problem with ammunition. For example, one of our shots equals 50 from the enemy. How to deal with this?” asked Dnipro Battalion Commander Yuriy Bereza. Colonel Bereza noted that the situation has improved a little, but “we are still waiting for help from the West in the form of artillery and vehicles.”

The New York Times  notes that the Ukrainian army has to fundamentally switch to new weapons systems in the middle of a war. The US and its allies are training the Ukrainian military abroad on how to use new systems. But the pace of this preparation is unsatisfactory. In addition, some trained Ukrainian are now casualties.  A Ukrainian officer who works with M777 howitzers said several of his fellow gunners who trained in Latvia have been killed or wounded in the fighting.