Is Ukraine Using an “Elastic Defense?” Or Just Losing the War?

Update on the conflict in Ukraine for June 23, 2024…

– Western narratives continue to suggest Ukraine is buying time for additional arms and ammunition to arrive at the front;

– However, Western military production is unable to supply sufficient arms and ammunition to turn the tide in the fighting;

– Articles discussing an “elastic defense” admit the lopsided nature of fighting in Russia’s favor; – Other signs of flagging Western aid is the desperate decision to delay Patriot missile orders to redirect missiles to Ukraine;

– The US only produces 550 interceptors a year while Russia launches over 4,000 missiles at targets across Ukraine over the same period;

– “Factories” Western arms manufacturers claim they are building in Ukraine are mis-advertised, and instead small repair shops with negligible strategic value;

References:

Washington Post – Wounded Ukrainian soldiers reveal steep toll of Kherson offensive (September 2022):
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/…

AP – Ukraine employs a flexible defense while waiting for new Western ammo to get to the front (June 17, 2024):
https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-ru…

FT – US to redirect Patriot air defence orders to Ukraine (June 20, 2024):
https://www.ft.com/content/89fe9d6b-3…

Defense News – How Patriot proved itself in Ukraine and secured a fresh future (April 2024):
https://www.defensenews.com/land/2024….

Reuters – Ukraine says Russia has launched over 8,000 missiles, 4,630 drones during war (February 2024):
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/…

Kyiv Independent – Destruction of Kerch Bridge won’t be as effective anymore, military says (June 17, 2024):
https://kyivindependent.com/destructi…

RAND Corporation – It Isn’t All Bad News for Ukraine (July 11, 2024):
https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/…

RAND Corporation – Extending Russia Competing from Advantageous Ground (2019):
https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_re…

Ukrainska Pravda – Where are the Fortifications (in Ukrainian) (May 13, 2024):
https://www.pravda.com.ua/rus/columns…

The Kyiv Indepdent – First Rheinmetall-Ukraine joint production and repair plant becomes operational (June 11, 2024):
https://kyivindependent.com/first-rhe….

BILD – BILD in the Secret Tank Factory, Repair Hall is Russia’s Strategic Target (June 16, 2024):
https://www.bild.de/politik/ausland-u…

Kyiv Independent – Rheinmetall aims to start production of armored vehicles in Ukraine in 2024 (December 2023):
https://kyivindependent.com/rheinmeta…

Breaking Defense – Northrop planning to build munitions inside Ukraine (June 18, 2024):
https://breakingdefense.com/2024/06/n…