Russia Vs Ukraine Military Power: A few hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin’s announcement to start Russian military operation against Ukraine, air raid sirens, explosions have gone off in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, indicating that the city is under attack. Amid tensions, Russia claimed that it has destroyed Ukraine’s airbases and defences whereas the Ukraine military reported that it has shot down five enemy planes and a helicopter.
Is Ukraine Well-Equipped To Take On Russia?
As per some reports, Ukraine’s armed forces are heavily outgunned and outnumbered by Russia. Ukraine’s army is also better equipped and trained compared to 2014 when Russia captured Crimea from Ukraine without a war.
In recent years, Ukraine’s forces have bagged combat experiences in the Donbass region, where they have been fighting Russia-backed separatists since 2014. Its forces are equipped with short-range air defences, anti-tank weaponry and Ukraine also has volunteer territorial defence units and around 900,000 reservists. Most adult males have at least basic military training so that they can put up a fight against Russia.
What do Facts and Numbers say?
Ukraine seems to be lagging behind Russia when it comes to military weapons, manpower, etc.
- More than 100000 troops are currently near Russia’s border with Ukraine
- Russia has also moved some troops to the north of Ukraine, Belarus
- Russia’s army has about 280000 personnel and its combined armed forces are about 900000
- Russia’s 2840 battle tanks outnumber Ukraine’s
West is keen to help Ukraine?
As per the military analysts, Ukraine’s anti-aircraft and anti-missile defences are weak and highly vulnerable to Russian strikes. They say Russia would also seek to use its superiority in electronic warfare to paralyse its adversary’s command and cut off communications with inits in the field.
However, western countries have stepped up arms deliveries to Ukraine. The United States has provided $2.5+ billion in military aid since 2014, including coastal patrol boats, Javelin anti-tank missiles, sniper rifles, radar systems, Humvees, night vision and radio equipment.
Turkey has also sold many batches of Bayraktar TB2 drones to Kyiv. Britain has also supplied about 2000 short-range anti-tank missiles in January and also sent British specialists to deliver training.
