14.10.2024 – Translated from Ukrainian via Google and OFP
The aggressor country Russia is gradually running out of resources in the third year of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Russian troops at the front are experiencing a certain shortage of ammunition, but thanks to supplies of weapons and components from North Korea, Iran and China, they can continue to wage war.
General and former commander of the US Army in Europe Ben Hodges said this in an interview with Espresso. At the same time, the Ukrainian Defense Forces are actively using their own UAVs against the Russians, as well as cluster munitions.
Hodges noted that Russia can continue to spend money on the war because India and China are still buying oil and gas from it. If Ukraine were to succeed in stopping Russian oil and gas exports, Moscow would not have the funds to buy ammunition and attack drones from North Korea and Iran.
Moreover, there are still many loopholes in the current sanctions system.
“We know that some critical components for Russian weapons are made in the United States, then they end up in India, and from there they end up in Russian weapons,” the US military official said.
However, according to him, even now, when it is impossible to completely cut off supplies to the Russians, the Russian army is already beginning to experience a certain shortage of ammunition.
“We’re now hearing that Russia is finally experiencing some ammunition shortages, while the Ukrainian forces are not only actively producing their own drones, but also effectively using cluster artillery shells, which have proven very effective against Russian artillery. So it seems to me that the scales are starting to tip in Ukraine’s favor, although not quite yet,” Hodges said.
He added that he was disappointed that the United States had not fully taken into account the requests of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the Victory Plan that he presented to the American leadership.
“What’s also troubling is that we’re still more concerned about not provoking Russia than defeating it. I think we’ll regret that for a long time. But I don’t think that’s going to change under this administration,” the general said.
He is convinced that if Kamala Harris becomes US President, there is hope for “more decisive and positive steps.”
As OBOZ.UA reported, half of the shells with which the aggressor country attacks Ukrainian cities are transferred to the occupiers by North Korea. We are talking about the transfer of about three million shells per year from Pyongyang to Moscow.
It is paramount for Ukraine to continue its efforts to destroy mafia land’s ammo and fuel depots and also refineries as much as possible. Only relentless hammer blows will bring improvements on the battlefield.
“What’s also troubling is that we’re still more concerned about not provoking Russia than defeating it. I think we’ll regret that for a long time. But I don’t think that’s going to change under this administration,”
I agree with the general. The Biden administration is finished. It never had a strategy and never will. It never had courage and never will. It never had foresight and that won’t change either. In a few months, we can say goodbye and good riddance to one of our worst administrations ever. I hope that we can say hello, Mrs. Harris, welcome to the White House.