The war in Ukraine is nearly one-half year old. Heavy Russian losses on the outskirts of Kyiv and in the strategically vital Donbas have left Moscow short of its goals and with some 80,000 casualties.
Integral to Ukraine's success, the Ukrainian Army has defied expectations at nearly every turn, with the country's special operations forces (SOF) utilizing a mobile defense and guerrilla tactics to inflict grievous harm on the far larger but much more cumbersome Russian colossus.
Insider has more on the arsenal these brave Ukrainians have taken with them into battle:
Like a lot of former Soviet bloc countries, Ukrainian special forces' tactics, equipment, and even special operations forces are very Russian. This also applies to their names, with units like Spetsnaz and Alpha group existing in both Russia and Ukraine.
Ukraine has had a bit of a western influence as of late, and that's even beginning to show with its small arms.
As you might expect, assault rifles, like the AK-74, are an especially useful tool in the hands of Ukrainian special operators.
While the Ukrainian special forces are modernizing, they do retain a large number of small arms from Russia. The main rifle of the Ukrainian military is the AK-74 series. These 5.45x39mm assault rifles provide a very reliable and controllable platform. The smaller 5.45 caliber provides softer recoiling rounds with less muzzle rise.
While not particularly flashy, firearms like the AK-74 and AKS-74U are reliable workhorses that get the job done — and have a solid track record in cold weather. Of course, the arsenal available to Ukraine's elite warriors doesn't end there, as Insider notes:
The Fort-221 is a Ukrainian-licensed and -produced assault rifle that hails from Israel where it's called the 5.56 Tavor. The Fort-221 swapped the caliber to 5.45×39 to make it more appropriate for their current caliber of choice. This is a big step forward in the modernization of the Ukrainian military.
Ukraine has given no official tally of the estimated number of its soldiers killed, though it is no doubt at least comparable to the Russian Army. Given the indiscriminate attacks by Russia, the Ukrainian civilian death toll is widely believed to be “thousands higher” than the official number.
But sustaining an offensive amid heavy losses is difficult, and after a point, an army crosses the threshold where it can no longer maintain the strategic initiative.
Like Joseph Stalin in 1941-42, Vladimir Putin has learned this the hard way. And Ukrainian special forces have played no small part in keeping the Russian Bear at bay so far.
Read the Insider article in its entirety at businessinsider.com and learn more about the submachine guns, sniper rifles, machine guns and sidearms that have helped ensure Ukraine's sovereignty.
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This article by Paul Crespo is right out of the West’s propaganda playbook.
Ukraine is losing the war. Ukraine has been shelling the Donbas for 8 years and killing their own citizens who happen to be Russian. Russia invaded because NATO was going to bring Ukraine into NATO after they had agreed not to do so in prior agreements with Russia.
I pray to God every night for Ukraine. May they defeat the Russian forces and secure the peace ASAP.
This attack on Ukraine by Russia is insane. Russia was a friendly giant that was adopting Western ways. Now, it is a colossal villain with a recent history of war crimes.
We should do everything in our power to help Ukraine defeat the Russia forces. We should give them plenty of Stinger missiles to help them clear the skies of Russian jets. Once air superiority is achieved over the skies of Ukraine by the Ukrainians, hopefully the Russian forces will retreat and leave Ukraine alone in peace.
I don’t know Michael Paul, this whole thing started with the corruption with Barizma ( I don’t think I spelled that right). It may be a two faced thing. What Putin (although i believe he is a mad man) is looking to expose may be far more evil than his troops themselves. I don’t know for sure, but somebodies (perhaps everybodies) are hiding great injustices that would rock the entire world if (or when) it all comes to light. So, not pissing on your parade, just trying to add a little intellect to what you are thinking. It is not nearly as simple as we are told. Sorry for the bad news.
Russian imported mercenaries from everywhere red and pink are knuckle dragging Neanderthals laying waste to civilians, children, pets, and anything of value not seen since th Dark Ages.
The World is watching and where is th UN?….. DISGUSTING THINGS OF TH END TIMES, CERTAINLY! MAKE THEM PAY!
Until the Ukraine military is allowed to take out the Russian weapons and ammo stockpiles, and troops just across the border, Putin’s war will continue. NATO needs to give them everything they need to drive Russia out of their country, especially their ports on the Black Sea. As unhinged as Putin is it’s doubtful he would be stupid enough to resort to using nuclear weapons. He knows that if he did the west would respond in kind and his country would suffer just as much as Ukraine. It’s way past time for taking off the gloves and calling his bluff.