Ukrainian weapons are almost exhausted: Zelensky

Once part of the Soviet Union, Ukraine"s army and its defense industry were built around Soviet and Russian-standard equipment, small arms, tanks, howitzers, and other weapons not interchangeable with those of neighbors to the west.

NewsBharati    10-Jun-2022 13:31:12 PM
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Kyiv, Jun 10: Ukraine has depleted its Soviet and Russian-designed weaponry and is now completely dependent on allies for arms to defend against Russia's invasion, UюSю military sources say.
 

Ukrainian Weapons 
 
Once part of the Soviet Union, Ukraine's army and its defense industry were built around Soviet and Russian-standard equipment, small arms, tanks, howitzers, and other weapons not interchangeable with those of neighbors to the west.
 
 
 
More than three months into the conflict sparked when Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, that equipment has been used up or destroyed in battle, the U.S. sources said. Now, Kyiv's forces are using or learning to use, arms wielded by the United States and European NATO allies. Early in the war, the West was cautious about supplying much to Kyiv, worried that doing so risked bringing about a NATO v. Russia conflict. They also feared their advanced weapons technology would fall into Russia's hands. Instead, Ukraine's allies offered up their own stockpiles of Russian-standard equipment, including tanks and helicopters, to bolster Kyiv's troops. The United States also led an effort to comb through other ex-Soviet countries for ammunition, parts, and additional supplies that would match Ukraine's needs. But that all has now been used up or destroyed. "They are gone from the world," a U.S. official said of the Soviet and Russian-standard arms. That means Ukrainian forces are having to switch to often unfamiliar arms built to Western specifications. Shedding former worries over the conflict expanding or Russia obtaining sensitive technology, the United States and NATO partners are sending Ukraine heavy armaments, such as howitzers and Himars rocket artillery — the latter offering greater range and precision than what the Russians have. Under the umbrella of the 40-member Contact Group for Ukraine, allied defense chiefs are coordinating their assistance so that Kyiv's forces receive a continuous stream of ammunition, spare parts, and weaponry said another U.S. military official. But officials emphasized that if the arms appear to be arriving slowly, it is mainly because the allies want to be sure Ukraine's forces can absorb them steadily and safely. The pace also limits the risk of stockpiled weaponry being destroyed by shelling inside Ukraine.
 
 
The United States is therefore sending its arms in stages. The latest $700 million packages announced on June 1 includes four Himars artillery systems, 1,000 Javelin anti-tank missiles, and four Soviet-standard Mi-17 helicopters. It also includes 15,000 howitzer shells, 15 light armored vehicles, and other ammunition. "We try to keep a steady flow," the second U.S. official said.