By Sean Bell, navy analyst
Overnight, Russia launched what it described as a “huge 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 impression the Ukrainian navy industrial enterprise.
President Zelenskyy reiterated his attraction to the West to extend provides of weapons and ammunition – notably air defence missiles – to allow Ukraine to withstand the latest Russian onslaught.
President Putin is evidently ratcheting up navy stress on Ukraine as dwindling provides of weapons make Ukraine extra vulnerable.
Politically, the West seems dedicated to supporting Ukraine’s navy marketing campaign, however translating rhetoric into a gradual provide of weapons and ammunition is proving troublesome.
Western war-stocks of weapons have been depleted considerably, and solely the US has adequate provides of weapons to satisfy Ukraine’s near-term wants.
However, with a $60bn navy help package deal but to be authorized by Congress, and with little signal that the gridlock shall be eased anytime quickly, the approaching weeks look more and more troublesome for Ukraine.
President Putin is clearly exploiting this window of Ukrainian navy 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 may nicely begin to set his sights additional afield.
The West retains choices – reminiscent of boots on the bottom and imposing a no-fly-zone – however up to now Russian threats seem to have succeeded in neutering Western political resolve.
But for a way for much longer?
