(Dan Tri) – Ukraine’s nightmare scenario has become a reality when the ground freezes in winter and Western aid to the country is also `frozen`.
Inside a classroom damaged in a missile attack in Lviv, western Ukraine, on December 29, 2023 (Photo: AFP).
It’s a nightmare scenario that Ukrainian and Western officials have feared for months.
Western officials have watched Russia concentrate its precision-guided weapons on targeted attacks on Ukraine’s critical infrastructure in the winter, while maintaining pace.
And on the morning of December 29, it became a reality.
Russia has launched a series of hail attacks across Ukraine, hitting Kiev, Dnipro, Lviv, Zaporizhzhia, Odesa and Kharkiv.
Moscow fired so many missiles that the Polish government accused one of the Russian missiles of flying into its airspace.
Amid the chaos that engulfed the streets of Kiev, one man tried to stop the fire from spreading by driving his burning car away from the crowd.
The new attacks have Ukrainian officials and American experts questioning how long Kiev can hold on this winter when the frozen ground makes it difficult, and especially when aid flows.
Ukrainian officials believe that the offensive capabilities of Russian forces are even greater than what the country has just shown: Moscow can fire about 300 suicide drones (UAVs) in one attack.
And with Ukraine’s counteroffensive stalled and new weapons unable to arrive in time, how resilient will Ukraine be?
`Ukraine is heading for a harsh winter for obvious reasons. But I think the morale of Ukrainians is very high. Of course, what is important now is that we all increase our support,` the ministry said.
But that spirit is now facing a huge test as Ukrainians are regularly startled out of bed by dozens of air strike warnings that make their phones light up.
Meanwhile, aid supplies will not arrive on time, at least not until the US Congress returns to session after recess until the second week of January, and possibly even longer.
`Ukraine needs support now to continue fighting in 2024,` US Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink wrote on Twitter along with screenshots of many air strike warnings sent to the people of Kiev.
U.S. officials have found that movement on nearly stagnant front lines has slowed significantly in recent weeks, a trend that is expected to continue in the near term.
Meanwhile, the weather in Ukraine is becoming increasingly harsh and cold.
`Obviously we’re past the ground counterattack now. Since it’s not going to get large amounts of long-range precision fire, Ukraine probably needs to entrench and defend now, and if Congress
The expert said the Ukrainian army has acquired a number of longer-range attack weapons, which has forced Russian ships and aircraft to move away from the front lines.
However, the Ukrainians were almost running out of ammunition and time.
Mr. Ben Hodges, former commander of US troops in Europe, said: `If they had longer-range weapons, they could completely destroy Russia’s logistics system. I think they know this is really a
Although Ukraine needs more air defenses to prevent attacks like the `firestorm` on December 29, Ukrainian officials have pointed out that falling temperatures have changed their priorities: war.
`The biggest problem we are going to encounter is when Russia starts heavy shelling. Because we won’t have enough ammunition,` said congresswoman Ustinova.
But Ukraine has been forced to cut back its military operations as aid has dried up.
And if Ukraine wants to pressure Russia despite the snow, it must clear the entire minefield ahead.
Meanwhile, Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur said in November that Russia still has about 7,000 – 8,000 tanks in reserve.
Therefore, currently, without Western aid, if Russia steps up combat operations in eastern Ukraine, Kiev may lose more territory.
`It’s painful, because we have to pay thousands of lives to gain control of every kilometer. Russia has captured more territory. Look at the map and you will see,` MP Ustinova added.
