Despite the support of billions of dollars' worth of military equipment from the US and its NATO allies, the Ukrainian armed forces have failed to achieve any significant results, as well as to utilize the advanced Western military equipment effectively.
Sputnik explores the reasons behind the botched Ukrainian counteroffensive and the role of Western weapons in the conflict.
Billions in Military Aid Gone Up in Smoke
The initial days of the Ukrainian counteroffensive, widely touted and cheer-led in the West, have not generated any notable successes.
The Russian Defense Ministry has reported the destruction of a large portion of Ukraine's military equipment since the onset of the special military operation. This includes hundreds of airplanes, helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles, air defense missile systems, tanks, armored combat vehicles, and other military hardware.
In just the first week of the counteroffensive, Ukrainian forces suffered thousands of human losses and lost numerous German Leopard 2 tanks, US-made Bradley infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs), and French-manufactured AMX-10 RC light tanks.
Lack of Training or Low-Quality Equipment?
While some Western analysts point to a lack of training for Ukrainian soldiers as the primary reason for the botched counteroffensive, others argue that the problem lies in the quality of the Western military equipment provided.
The destruction of numerous high-profile Western military vehicles has tarnished the reputation of both German and US defense contractors.
Michael Maloof, a former senior security policy analyst in the US Office of the Secretary of Defense, attributes the failure of the Ukrainian counteroffensive to several factors, including poor planning, lack of manpower, inadequate resources, and insufficient training.
As a result, the counteroffensive has fallen short of expectations, with Ukraine's actions being more of a "probing action" than a full-scale assault.
Russian Equipment Proven in Local Conflicts
Anatoliy Matviychuk, military expert and retired colonel, who has experience in combat operations in Afghanistan and Syria, told Sputnik that Russian military equipment has undergone serious upgrading and testing in various local conflicts and peace missions since 1979.
As a result, Russian hardware is better suited to the challenges of modern warfare, particularly in the Eastern European theater, with its harsh weather conditions and challenging terrain.
In contrast, Western armored vehicles have struggled with the unique conditions of the Eastern European battlefield. NATO's military equipment has faced various logistical problems, including difficulties in traversing difficult terrain and crossing Ukrainian bridges with heavy German tanks.
Is Western Support for Ukraine Bound to Continue?
The rapid destruction of Western weapons and the lack of significant victories for Ukraine may influence future weapons supplies. Ukrainian politicians have called on their Western supporters to provide even more military equipment and armored vehicles to replace those lost in battle.
However, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has stated that Berlin cannot replace every Leopard tank destroyed on the Ukrainian battlefield. Instead, Germany plans to continue supplying repaired Leopard 1 A5 tanks starting in July.
Meanwhile, the Biden administration has approved an additional $325 million in aid to provide Ukraine with more M2 Bradley IFVs and ammunition for HIMARS and NASAMS systems.
As the hostilities rage on, there has been growing opposition to the support of the Ukrainian counteroffensive in various Western countries.
Protests have erupted in Poland, Bulgaria, and Germany, with citizens taking to the streets about the expense of these weapons supplies and the implications it will have on their domestic economies and social programs.