Ukraine is creating at least 10 new brigades, but there are not enough weapons for them, - ISW
Date: 2024-07-04 Author: Кирило Загоруйко Categories: WAR
Ukraine, amid mobilization, is forming several new brigades, but will probably not be able to arm them due to the delay in assistance from partners.
According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), timely and adequate Western security assistance continues to be a critical factor in determining when and to what extent Ukrainian forces will be able to challenge the initiative on the battlefield and conduct operationally important counter-offensive operations in future.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukrainian forces are in a better position in terms of manpower than they were a few months ago. However, he also acknowledged that Ukraine's ability to conduct a future counter-offensive operation depends on equipping brigades with heavy equipment, such as mechanized combat vehicles, armored personnel carriers, tanks and heavy artillery. Analysts say there are at least 10 planned new Ukrainian brigades.
The commander of a Ukrainian brigade that operated near Chasovoy Yar provided a similar assessment at the tactical level. According to him, Ukrainian forces in his operational zone are in greater need of ammunition than manpower.
Zelensky admitted that military equipment takes too long to arrive at the front. The slow arrival of U.S. security assistance is hampering Ukraine's efforts to equip reserve brigades sufficiently to commit them to defensive operations.
At the same time, the Ukrainian media constantly emphasize the lack of sufficient material resources to equip all the new Ukrainian brigades that are currently being formed. Current reports note that due to the slow supply of weapons, the equipment of new brigades is in question.
Analysts note that Ukraine's ability to conduct operationally significant counter-offensive operations at the time of its choosing is critical to avoid prolongation of the war.
There is no time or flexibility to wait for the security of Western help to equip new units. The Russians are trying to use the initiative on the battlefield to try to force Ukraine to commit manpower and equipment to ongoing defensive operations and prevent it from amassing the critical personnel and resources needed to seize the initiative.
