By Sean Bell, army analyst
Overnight, Russia launched what it described as a “large strike” towards Ukrainian vitality infrastructure.
Ukraine claims the attack concerned a minimum of 82 drones and missiles, launched from 9 Russian strategic bombers.
The thermal energy plant in Kyiv was destroyed within the attack, which the Russian defence ministry claimed would affect the Ukrainian army industrial enterprise.
President Zelenskyy reiterated his enchantment to the West to extend provides of weapons and ammunition – significantly air defence missiles – to allow Ukraine to withstand the latest Russian onslaught.
President Putin is evidently ratcheting up army stress on Ukraine as dwindling provides of weapons make Ukraine extra vulnerable.
Politically, the West seems dedicated to supporting Ukraine’s army marketing campaign, however translating rhetoric into a gentle provide of weapons and ammunition is proving tough.
Western war-stocks of weapons have been depleted considerably, and solely the US has ample provides of weapons to satisfy Ukraine’s near-term wants.
However, with a $60bn army assist bundle but to be authorised by Congress, and with little signal that the gridlock might be eased anytime quickly, the approaching weeks look more and more tough for Ukraine.
President Putin is clearly exploiting this window of Ukrainian army vulnerability, within the hope that Russian forces – that overmatch Ukrainians 10:1 in some components of the frontline – can obtain a decisive breakthrough within the coming weeks.
If Russia prevails, an emboldened Putin would possibly effectively begin to set his sights additional afield.
The West retains choices – corresponding to boots on the bottom and imposing a no-fly-zone – however to this point Russian threats seem to have succeeded in neutering Western political resolve.
But for a way for much longer?
