ANALYSIS – February 24 will be the one-year anniversary of Vladimir Putin’s ‘Special Military Operation’ in Ukraine (aka invasion). What was intended to be a quick multi-pronged assault to remove the government in Kyiv has become a grinding war of attrition along a 600-mile front in the east and the south.
Putin’s invasion has killed thousands of innocent civilians and displaced millions, ravaged cities and destroyed vital infrastructure across the country.
The Russian offensive peaked about a month after the invasion began when it controlled at least 22 percent of Ukraine’s territory. In the beginning, many questioned the ability of the Ukrainians to withstand an invasion, predicting the imminent fall of the capital Kyiv.
Instead, it stalled and shrunk. Ukrainian forces reclaimed about one-quarter of that same land in the next few months.
Ukrainian forces also held the capital and continue to resist Russian attempts to control territory, helped by a massive influx of Western weapons, ammunition and equipment, which Putin claims (not incorrectly) amounts to a proxy war by all of NATO against Russia.
But according to U.S. officials, the grinding conflict could last for months or even years.
During a surprise visit to Kyiv on Monday, Feb. 20, Joe Biden promised new military aid for Ukraine worth $500 million, four days shy of the invasion’s first anniversary.
Critics called Biden’s attention-grabbing trip a distraction and deflection from pressing issues at home, including the Chinese ‘spy balloon’ fiasco and his trigger-happy responses afterward, where he ordered the downing of a succession of three small, benign civilian balloons. (RELATED: Biden’s Wild Shooting Spree (Likely) Blasted 3 Innocent Civilian Balloons With $400k Missiles)
Of course, Biden’s spin machine made the most of the visit.
Planned over several months by key advisers, his visit was described as “unprecedented in modern times” by his national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, because it was the first time a U.S. president had visited “the capital of the country at war where the United States military does not control the critical infrastructure.”
Sullivan, who accompanied the president, said the trip had “required a security, operational, and logistical effort from professionals across the U.S. government to take what was an inherently risky undertaking and make it a manageable level of risk.”
Ignored by Sullivan is the fact that Kyiv today is relatively safer than either Kabul or Baghdad was when prior U.S. presidents such as George W. Bush visited those capitals during their conflicts.
Just prior to the visit, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the military is inflicting “extraordinarily significant” losses on Russian forces attacking the town of Vuhledar to the east of the country.
Ukraine has been fighting to hold back a Russian offensive in the eastern area of Donbas while it waits for the arrival of new weapons promised by Western countries.
Despite claims by both sides that they are making headway, analysts estimate that there is no end in sight for what is now essentially a war of attrition. And both sides continue to suffer heavy losses.
According to a variety of sources, close to 200,000 Russian troops have been killed or wounded in the war so far. By comparison, Ukraine has seen some 100,000 killed or wounded in action and 30,000 civilian deaths.
In terms of equipment, the two sides have lost a combined total of more than 12,000 weapon platforms. This includes more than 2,000 tanks, 4,000 armored vehicles and 1,000 artillery pieces.
As noted in the graphic above, in the top categories of men, armored vehicles and artillery, Russia has suffered the far greatest losses. Russia has also lost far more unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
The numbers are far smaller, and closer, in surface-to-air-missiles (SAMS) and aircraft.
Helicopter losses are almost two to one against Russia, but Ukraine has lost twice as many naval craft.
It is important to note that these only include visually confirmed losses. Actual losses are estimated to be significantly higher.
And while some of these gruesome numbers may seem to favor Ukraine, they may be deceiving as Russia has a far larger population and the ability to keep throwing men and machines at the war.
Meanwhile, Russia is hurting economically and politically, but Ukraine is also hurting economically and suffering the brunt of physical destruction and civilian casualties.
Upshot – expect this ugly war to drag on for a long time.
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of American Liberty News.
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The morale of the defenders certainly is much higher than the Russian conscripts sent to kill Ukrainians. The Ukrainians are taking a much higher toll on Russian soldiers and equipment. Pootie is upset and there is talk of a coup d’ etat in Russia to remove him. Keep the pressure on as long as it takes to defeat the invaders.
Coming Nuclear War ahead