While the Kremlin was waiting for a written response to its ultimatum to the collective West, military aid planes landed in Kyiv one after another. Can the grandiose deterioration of the situation play into Ukraine’s hands?

From the very beginning of the war, since 2014, Ukraine has not seen as much military aid as it has been arriving in recent days. At one of the resorts visited by TSN.Tyzhden, they literally barely have time to unload defensive weapons from the allies. Now the main task is to get these, literally iron arguments against the Russian invasion, into the hands of our fighters as soon as possible.

And this is just the beginning. The airlift from the United States alone provides forty-five flights.

“Russian soldiers sent by the Kremlin to Ukraine will face fierce resistance, Russia will suffer heavy losses, and will meet a firm, powerful and joint response from the United States and our allies,” said Christina Quinn, Ukraine’s Chargé d’Affaires in Ukraine.

This is the first time the Kremlin has encountered such Western cohesion against Russian aggression. Seven other United States allies have stated their readiness to supply weapons to Ukraine. The legendary Stingers will soon arrive from Lithuania and Latvia – extremely effective, war-tested anti-aircraft systems. And the United Kingdom has already delivered more than 2,000 state-of-the-art NLAW anti-tank missiles to Kyiv .

“If you want peace – prepare for war” – this proverb is more relevant today than ever for Ukrainians. Whether the Kremlin is preparing for us – a large-scale offensive or another hybrid strike – these British anti-tank systems will make our guys more secure in the event of an attack by Russian tanks. And their crews, I hope, will now think three times whether to cross the Ukrainian border.Great Britain delivered more than 2,000 NLAW anti-tank missiles to Kyiv / photo army.mod.uk

TSN.Tyzhden witnessed how British gifts are tested in Ukraine during the Winter War. The missile is guaranteed to tear the armor to pieces.

Accurate, simple, effective – this is how Ukrainian weapons are characterized by Ukrainian instructors.

“This is an impressive technique, it works intuitively,” instructor Maksym Tolochyk told TSN.

How it is intuitive, TSN.Tyzhnya is explained by the Commander of the Land Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Ihor Palahniuk: “The main thing is to catch the target, fix it in sight for 2-3 seconds, press the launch. And then the missile will do everything itself.”

The unique design of the missile allows you to fire from an enclosed space. No other such system in the world can do that.

NLAW parties are immediately sent to all threatening areas from where Russia may launch an invasion.

“This equipment has already entered the army… It has arrived there and is waiting for trained operators,” said Igor Palagniuk.

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In addition to Western military aid, the price of the invasion is being raised by the intensification of domestic strategic projects. After the winter tests on combat duty in the near future will be a whole division of Ukrainian missiles “Neptune”, the range of which reaches 300 kilometers.

“The transfer of the division will take place in February-March. The division consists of 21 cars, launching platforms, transport and charging, transport, command vehicles, ground handling complex,” Oleg Korostylov, head of the Luch design bureau, told TSN.A whole division of Ukrainian missiles “Neptune” will be on combat duty in the near future / photo UNIAN

The rapid increase in Ukraine’s readiness for war does not add optimism to the thousands of Russian soldiers who are freezing in snow-covered fields on Ukraine’s borders. So the propagandists are trying to raise the fighting spirit of the offensive units in any way. In particular, the former Ukrainian prime minister, who fled to Russia, Mykola Azarov, said on Russian television: “Most [the population] is waiting for Putin to attack and liberate the country from this shovel. Of course, they do not talk about it publicly. But such sentiments exist. “

Together with Lukashenko, Putin is trying to intimidate Ukraine and its allies through joint exercises in Belarus. The latter declares: “As anyone would like, but we will return Ukraine to the bosom of Slavdom .”

But despite all attempts to destabilize, panic did not grip Ukraine. Even the dollar has already swayed. To reassure war-scared investors, billionaire Richard Branson called on the world’s business elite to support Ukraine : “It’s time for business leaders to unite and defend Ukraine’s sovereignty. the sector will support the full range of sanctions. “

Last week changed the geopolitical situation right before our eyes. The Kremlin appears to have received a slap in the face in response to an ultimatum not to join NATO. And, judging by the reaction of the Russian Foreign Minister, NATO diplomats did not choose their words too much.

“Against the backdrop of a paper sent to us from NATO, the American response is almost a model of diplomatic decency. he wrote the texts, ” said Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

But diplomacy, reinforced by military aid to Ukraine, has influenced Russia more effectively than just diplomacy. Something worked.

“If it depends on the Russian Federation, there will be no war. We do not want a war, but we will not allow a rude attack on our interests,” Lavrov said.In response to the ultimatum on NATO non-enlargement, the Kremlin seems to have received a loud slap / photo REUTERS

At least, the West stopped retreating and went on a diplomatic offensive against the violator of international law. Now the United States is raising its stakes, and the question of whether there will be a war or not requires an answer from one person, who, in fact, created the current geopolitical crisis.

“The most important answer is President Putin’s answer. And, as far as we know, according to the Russians, these papers are on his desk. And we are looking forward to his answer,” said US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken.

Whatever the answer, Kyiv is now ready for it on a completely different level. And the measures that the United States plans to use in the form of sanctions, the media call the complete destruction of Russia’s economy. If they work, their consequences will not go unnoticed by billionaires or ordinary citizens of a country whose rulers threaten the world with bloody carnage.

Andriy Tsaplienko, Oleksiy Osavchuk, Valentyn Shilko, Hennadiy Shulha

(C)UNIAN 2022