The Ukrainian Armed Forces have shown that they are capable of defeating the Russian army, and this stunning success has fueled talk among allies about the need to provide Ukraine with even more weapons.
A stunning counterattack that pushed Russia to disorderly retreat, increased optimism in Ukraine and abroad about a turning point in the war. Against this background, international calls to send more weapons to Ukraine in the hope of hastening the defeat of Russia intensified, according to an article in The Washington Post.
The lightning attack of Ukrainian troops, during which they in a matter of days, they recaptured almost the entire Kharkiv region, which had been occupied since the first days of the full-scale war, forced Moscow to falter. However, the Kremlin and its proxies insisted that the war would continue until President Vladimir Putin's goals were achieved, and blamed NATO and the US for Ukraine's refusal to surrender.
The US government looked at developments at the front with cautious optimism. Pentagon officials declined to speculate on how far the armed forces could advance, but suggested that the collapse of the Russian military is a symptom of its poor organization, command, equipment and support of its forces. “It was only a 'matter of time' before these problems, along with Ukraine's accumulation of advanced Western weapons, would have consequences,” said one US Department of Defense official on condition of anonymity.
Also read: The Big Break: NYT on what the loss of Izyum means for the Russians
However, according to US and Western officials, the war may drag on for a long time. Russia still holds large swathes of Ukraine, including Mariupol and Kherson, Putin's coveted “land bridge” to Crimea, which Russia illegally annexed in 2014, and most of the Luhansk and Donetsk regions, where Russia has recognized two separatist “republics”.
During the hasty retreat, presented by the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation as a “regrouping”, the Russians left behind tanks, armored vehicles and ammunition that Ukraine will use on the battlefield. Equipment lossescould be a significant blow to Russia, and Ukraine will use its success to lobby for even more aid.
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielus Landsbergis tweeted on Sunday that “all stockpiles of advanced Western weapons,” including long-range missiles , fighters and tanks, “should be available to Ukraine.” “Let me be frank,” Landsbergis wrote. – Now there is no doubt that Ukraine could have thrown Russia out a few months ago if they had been provided with the necessary equipment from day one.”
No more westsplaining. No more dithering. No more negotiations with terrorists. Those who doubted Ukraine's strength should be apologizing. Ukraine defended us all, even when some did not believe they could succeed. Now is the time for us to show our deep gratitude.
— Gabrielius Landsbergis🇱🇹 (@GLandsbergis) September 11, 2022
In Moscow, the retreat exposed divisions among Kremlin supporters. Officials reiterated that the objectives of the “special military operation” would be achieved despite the failure, although the exact objectives were never fully understood. Russia responded to Ukraine's counteroffensive with missile strikes on civilian infrastructure, plunging several regions into darkness due to power outages.
Also read: Play your part in Ukraine's successes: Bundestag urged to provide more immediately weapons
But the mood around Ukraine remained joyfully defiant. In social networks, the statement of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi was reposted, in which he directly addressed the Russians with the words that “cold, hunger, darkness and thirst are not as terrible and deadly for us as your “friendship and brotherhood””. The euphoria only seemed to increase Ukraine's confidence that it would not give up an inch of territory to Russia and return its lands, including Crimea.
Volodymyr Fesenko, director of the Kyiv-based Penta Center for Applied Political Studies, said that the military successes are “a signal precisely for those Western politicians who are wavering” who fear that providing weapons could lead to a dangerous escalation of the conflict. “I believe that strengthening the military positions in Ukraine means strengthening the diplomatic positions of our country,” said Fesenko.
Western military experts said they were impressed by Ukraine's successes. “It should be emphasized what a great job the Ukrainians have done in controlling information – their operational security,” said retired Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges, former commander of the US Army in Europe. – For Russia, this is a culminating moment. They ran out in August. They could not continue offensive actions. The Ukrainians saw this and began to prepare several months ago.” of the north opens up possibilities that few thought of when Russia invaded Ukraine in February: that her army may be defeated, or may even disintegrate. Bloomberg writes about it.
See the special topic: The Russians have completely withdrawn from Kreminnaya – Come on Fighting is still going on around the Liman. The Ukrainian Armed Forces de-occupied another settlement in the Kharkiv region – map The border guards showed the clearing of the city. Blinken on the counteroffensive of the Armed Forces: Everything is just beginning, and Ukraine has already achieved considerable success But it is too early to make predictions about when the war will end. The Armed Forces hit seven strongholds of the occupiers in the Luhansk region The Ukrainian military continues to advance in the east and south of Ukraine. The Atlantic: It is time to prepare for the victory of Ukraine The liberation of all the territories occupied by Russia could lead to the overthrow of Vladimir Putin.
