Marta Hychko06:17, 07/04/24

Ukraine’s ability to conduct a future counteroffensive operation depends on equipping brigades with heavy equipment.

Against the background of mobilization , Ukraine is forming several new brigades, but probably will not be able to arm them due to the delay in assistance from partners. 

As the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reports , timely and adequate security assistance from the West continues to be a critical factor in determining when and to what extent Ukrainian forces will be able to challenge the initiative on the battlefield and conduct operationally significant counteroffensive operations in the future.

The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said that the Ukrainian forces are in a better position in terms of manpower than a few months ago. However, he also acknowledged that Ukraine’s ability to conduct a future counteroffensive operation depends on equipping the brigades with heavy equipment, such as mechanized combat vehicles, armored personnel carriers, tanks and heavy artillery. Analysts say that there are at least 10 planned new Ukrainian brigades.

The commander of the Ukrainian brigade, which operated near Chasovoy Yar, gave a similar assessment at the tactical level. According to him, Ukrainian forces in the zone of his operational zone need ammunition more than manpower. 

Zelensky admitted that military equipment takes too long to arrive at the front. The slow flow of American security assistance is complicating Ukraine’s efforts to equip reserve brigades sufficiently to engage them in defense operations. 

At the same time, the Ukrainian mass media constantly emphasize the lack of sufficient material resources to equip all the new Ukrainian brigades that are currently being formed. Current reports indicate that due to the slow supply of weapons, the equipping of new brigades is in question.

Analysts stress that Ukraine’s ability to conduct operationally significant counteroffensive operations at a time of its choosing is critical to avoiding a protracted war. 

There is no time and flexibility to wait for security assistance from the West to equip new units. The Russians are trying to use the initiative on the battlefield to try to force Ukraine to commit manpower and equipment to ongoing defense operations and prevent it from building up the crucial personnel and resources needed to seize the initiative.

(C)UNIAN 2024