Latest US Arms Shipment to Ukraine Cannot Solve Kiev’s Fundamental Problem

Update on the ongoing conflict in and around Ukraine for January 8, 2022:

– The US announced a major military aid package for Ukraine including 50 Bradley fighting vehicles, 18 M109 self-propelled 155mm howitzers, additional MRAP and Humvees as well as additional ammunition for various systems;

– Despite the relatively large size of the package compared with the last several months of aid, the weapons and ammunition fall far short of replacing even Ukraine’s losses let alone granting Ukraine the ability to match or over power Russian forces;

– Ukraine will likely use many of these systems to patch up elite units within its deteriorating brigades; – Germany and France are also sending armored vehicles, the Mauder infantry fighting vehicle and the AMX-10 RC respectively;

– This is likely paving the way to send additional heavy weapons like main battle tanks;

– These systems collectively are less-than-ideal for Ukraine, logistics, sustainment, and maintenance issues will hinder their effective use in combat, they also will not be arriving in the numbers necessary to replace Ukrainian losses or outmatch Russian forces;

Reference:

The Duran on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@TheDuran

Alex Christoforou on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@AlexChristof…

Alexander Mercouris on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@AlexMercouris

US Department of Defense – More Than $3 Billion in Additional Security Assistance for Ukraine Jan. 6, 2023:
https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases…

Fort Benning, US Army – Infantry Brigade Combat Team Scout Platoon AntiArmor Engagements at the Joint Readiness Training Center:
https://www.benning.army.mil/Armor/eA…

Congress of the US Congressional Budget Office – The US Military’s Force Structure: A Primer:
https://www.cbo.gov/sites/default/fil…

Defense News – US Army awards BAE contract to build full-rate production howitzers:
https://www.defensenews.com/land/2017…

Raytheon – Excalibur Projectile:
https://www.raytheonmissilesanddefens…

NYT – Artillery Is Breaking in Ukraine. It’s Becoming a Problem for the Pentagon. Ukrainian soldiers are firing thousands of shells daily, forcing the U.S. to replace gun barrels across the border in Poland:
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/25/us…

Russia Matters – What’s Ahead in the War in Ukraine:
https://www.russiamatters.org/analysi…