Russia assesses Ukraine's arsenal as 'empty'
(Baonghean.vn) - Konstantin Gavrilov, head of the Russian delegation at the Vienna talks on military security and arms control, assessed that Ukraine's arsenal is depleted and that is reflected on the battlefield.
In an interview with Rossiya 24, Gavrilov said the West continues to supply missiles and air defense systems to Kiev, but not on the same scale as before. The Russian diplomat predicted there would be no “surge” in arms transfers from the US and its allies. “Ukraine’s arsenals are empty,” Gavrilov said. “The military arsenals of NATO and the US are empty… You see what is happening on the battlefield – the Ukrainians have responded to 10 or 20 of our shells with just a few of their own.”
On Friday, the UK promised to send 200 anti-aircraft missiles to Ukraine. Commenting on the delivery, UK Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said, “Now is the time for the free world to come together and redouble its efforts to give Ukraine what it needs to win.” Earlier this week, the US also announced an additional $250 million in military aid, including a variety of missiles, artillery shells and shotgun shells.
The Washington Post reported earlier this month that Kiev is facing a severe ammunition shortage, while Moscow appears to have no such problem. The Ukrainian military says it is only allowed to fire about 10-20 rounds a day, down from 50 earlier in the conflict. Western military aid to Ukraine has been reduced in recent months. In the US, Republican lawmakers are opposing the Biden administration’s efforts to provide an additional $60 billion in aid to Kiev, while Hungary has vetoed a 50 billion euro ($55 billion) four-year EU aid package for Ukraine.
Moscow has repeatedly warned that the transfer of weapons to Kiev by the US and its allies will not prevent Russia from achieving its military objectives but will only increase the risk of direct confrontation between Russia and NATO. According to Russian officials, supplying weapons, sharing intelligence and training the Ukrainian military means that Western countries have become de facto parties to the conflict.
