Ukrainian Air Defenses Dwindling, West Scours World for Arms on Eve of “Spring Offensive”

Update on Russian military operations in Ukraine for April 12, 2023:

– Russian forces continue taking territory around the fortified cities of Avdeevka and Bakhmut;

– Russian forces now control much of the west bank of the Bakhmutka River;

– A Ukrainian missile fired deep into Crimea (and intercepted by Russian air defenses) may have been a Ukrainian Grom-2, comparable to the Iskander missile with a range of 500km;

– Despite the capabilities of the Grom-2 and potential NATO assistance to produce them (most likely in Poland) it is unlikely these missiles will appear in numbers large enough to overwhelm Russian air defenses;

– NYT admits Ukrainian air defenses are deteriorating, allowing Russia to more freely use its military aviation;

– While Western analysts claim this development may not translate into Russian success, arriving at this juncture is already very much a Russian success;

References:

Al Arabiya News – Missile fired from Ukraine shot down over Russian-controlled Crimea (April 8, 2023):
https://english.alarabiya.net/News/wo…

Alexander Mercouris – Russia Holds 90% Bakhmut, Sweden Refutes 6 Guys in Boat NS Claim, Macron Accused of Betraying US:
   • Russia Holds 90% …  

Army Recognition – Ukraine unveils new Grom-2 short-range ballistic missile (2018):
https://www.armyrecognition.com/janua…

Reuters – Ukraine, Poland to produce Soviet-era tank shells together (April 6, 2023):
https://www.reuters.com/business/aero…

Foreign Policy – Ukraine Needs Long-Range Firepower for Victory (January 2023):
https://foreignpolicy.com/2023/01/04/…

Telegraph – Russia shoots down Ukrainian missile over Crimea (April 8, 2023):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-new…

NYT – Leaked Documents Suggest Ukrainian Air Defense Is in Peril if Not Reinforced (April 9, 2023):
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/09/us…

Reuters – South Korea to lend 500,000 rounds of artillery shells to US -report (April 12, 2023):
https://www.yahoo.com/news/south-kore…