Since Putin’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24 last year, President Volodymyr Zelensky has successfully lobbied Western allies for technology that would outperform the invaders.
Zelensky has persuaded Western powers to provide technology and equipment in the fight against the Russian invasion.
Putin’s army will need to reorganize and eliminate corruption as it ‘harms the quality and supply of military equipment,’ an expert said.
The attack, against the poorly fortified Vocational Technical School in Makiivka, killed 89 Russian recruits according to the Kremlin and destroyed their ammunition, The Guardian reports.
The Kremlin confirmed the loss of life and blamed the use of mobile phones by its soldiers for giving away the location. Ukraine considers the likely death toll to be higher, possibly in the hundreds.
Ukraine last week received another lifeline when France, Germany and the US agreed to send versions of their tanks, the AMX-10, Marder and Bradley.
Although not classified as ‘true tanks’ due to their lack of armor or firepower, the guns are capable of providing fire support to Ukrainians advancing through enemy lines.
Among those machines, the US Bradley, which served with distinction in the 1991 Gulf War, is widely considered the most advanced, with a 25mm cannon fired from a chain gun and a scabbard on the side, effective in taking down Russian main battle tanks.
The United States has committed to sending about 50 Bradley tanks to Ukraine. The vehicles were very effective during the Gulf War in 1991.
‘In terms of military science, it is perfectly possible that Ukraine will win the war this year,’ Watling said.
‘There are other plausible scenarios: what if the Russian military industry gets its act together and ramps up munitions production? What if the Russians organize their training?
Concerning AMX-10, Mr Barry, who served in Bosnia and had several vehicles under his command, described the German Marder as ‘respectable but old’, adding that the AMX-10 is too thinly armored to be a true tank, but packs great speed.
He added: ‘If someone said to me, ‘Ben, I want you to build an armored brigade, would you like these things?’ I’d say “absolutely.”
They’re just what you need for a reconnaissance echelon or quick reaction force.
Ukrainian army chief Valery Zaluzhny says he needs 300 tanks, 600-700 infantry fighting vehicles and 500 howitzers to push Russia back to its lines before the invasion.
France has not confirmed how many AMX-10s it will send, while the German newspaper Der Spiegel reported that around 40 Marders, the equivalent of a battalion, are likely to be sent.
