Comment The Pentagon is sending new weapons and equipment to Ukraine that will better prepare its military to fight Russian troops at closer range, possibly signaling that Kyiv and its backers see an opportunity to regain lost ground after weeks of artillery duels against length of the first line. Ukrainian officials are openly discussing an attack on the strategic Russian-controlled port of Kherson, but there is little evidence on the front lines that Ukraine is ready to carry out an operation that would require large numbers of troops, armored vehicles and powerful, short-range weapons to overcome the numerically superior Russian army. The latest package appears to be a first step toward addressing some of the shortfalls in weaponry that Ukrainian forces would need to launch a counterattack, particularly in mined areas on the approach to well-entrenched Russian positions. A successful attack would involve the ability to attack from various distances. The nearly $800 million in aid announced Friday will include 40 bomb-resistant vehicles with cylinders attached to their fronts that help detonate mines and lighter howitzers that are easier to maneuver than the more powerful weapons the US has previously sent. The assistance will also include recoilless rifles with ranges of a few hundred meters and rocket launchers limited to less than three miles – much closer than the current distance between Ukrainian and Russian units in many places. “Demining is a really good example of how the Ukrainians are going to need this kind of capability to be able to push their forces forward and retake territory,” a senior US defense official told reporters on Friday. “These are capabilities that enhance the mobility of Ukrainians as they see this very challenging environment in southern Ukraine, in particular.” The official spoke on condition of anonymity in accordance with ground rules set by the Pentagon. What you need to know about Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant The armored vehicles known as MRAPs, an iconic vehicle in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, will protect troops from explosions and small arms fire while detonating cylinder mines that stick out the front like lobster antennae. US security assistance in recent months has focused on long-range missiles and shells, such as precision multiple launch missile systems known as HIMARS, to support Ukraine in its brutal artillery battle in the eastern Donbass region. These weapons have been effective in accurately targeting enemy command posts and ammunition depots and have led to a reduction in the scale of Russian bombing. But they haven’t shifted the front line. “We have not seen significant ground recovery, but we are seeing significant weakening of Russian positions in various locations,” the senior official said. Ukrainian troops have struggled to punch into Russian territory or capitalize on previous counterattacks, such as one near Kherson in June that liberated villages in the region. Ukrainian forces have not made much progress since then and have found themselves exposed on flat ground as Russian troops fire artillery units into the area and launch reconnaissance missions to probe Ukrainian defenses. The TOW missiles sent to Ukraine can either be mounted on a heavy tripod or loaded into the back of a vehicle such as a Humvee. This arrangement allows troops to launch a missile and quickly withdraw to avoid return fire – a technique known as “shoot and shoot”. The Humvees can also be used to tow new 105mm howitzers, which trade power and range for ease of transport and maneuverability compared to the heavier M777 howitzers the US has already fielded. The package also includes 2,000 cartridges for Carl Gustav recoilless rifles. The guns are carried by infantry to fire 84mm rounds at vehicles and fighting positions within a few hundred meters. Rob Lee, a senior fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute and an expert on the Russian military, cautioned that the Pentagon’s latest package is not proof that an attack is coming. Aid components may have other uses and some parts, such as MRAPs, may not be ideal for close combat due to their high silhouette and visibility, but they are better than the alternative of armored trucks. Other weapons, Lee said, indicate a possible desire on the Pentagon’s part to provide weapons but draw from stockpiles they were already assigned to, rather than dip into critical stockpiles and hurt readiness by sending expensive or advanced weapons. The US has already looked at withdrawable vehicles like Humvees and MRAPs and weapons like TOW. “I wouldn’t be surprised if there was a financial element to it,” Lee said. Some newly provided weapons could also be useful in an artillery battle in the east or an attack in the south, such as using the ScanEagle drone and radar-detecting missiles simultaneously to find and destroy Russian air defense systems. Removing these from the battlefield would allow troops to utilize their own drones in a counterattack and move more freely across the battlefield. A classic counterattack with lots of troops and vehicles might not be the best strategy anyway, Lee said. Ukraine has found success bombing Russians with long-range rockets and sabotaging positions in occupied Crimea, undermining confidence that Russians away from the battlefield are safe. “I don’t know if they have the strength to do it,” Lee said of an attack on Kherson. An attrition strategy, he said, “makes a lot of sense for Ukraine.”
War in Ukraine: What you need to know
The last: Grain shipments from Ukraine are being accelerated under the agreement reached by Ukraine, Russia, Turkey and the United Nations in July. Russia’s blockade of Ukraine’s Black Sea ports had sent food prices soaring and sparked fears of more famine in the Middle East and Africa. At least 18 ships, including cargoes of wheat, corn and sunflower oil, have departed. The battle: The conflict on the ground continues as Russia uses its heavy artillery advantage to pound Ukrainian forces, which have at times managed to put up stiff resistance. In the south, Ukraine’s hopes rest on liberating the Russian-held region of Kherson, and eventually Crimea, which Russia seized in 2014. Fears of a disaster at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant persist as both sides accuse each other of they bomb. The weapons: Western arms supplies are helping Ukraine slow Russian advances. US-supplied High Mobility Artillery Missile Systems (HIMARS) allow Ukrainian forces to strike further behind Russian lines against Russian artillery. Russia has used a range of weapons against Ukraine, some of which have drawn the attention and concern of analysts. Photos: Washington Post photographers have been on the ground since the start of the war — here are some of their strongest works. How you can help: Here are ways those in the US can help support the Ukrainian people, as well as the donations people have made around the world. Read his full coverage Russia-Ukraine crisis. Are you on Telegram? Subscribe to our channel for updates and exclusive video.
