ukrainian soldier suffered huge losses and they are in a vulnerable position – such a statement was made by American General Barry McCaffrey on Saturday, December 24.
“Ukraine is suffering great losses and is in great danger,” he said in an interview with the TV channel. MSNBC.
According to him, a battery of Patriot anti-aircraft missile systems, which the USA promised to supply to Kiev, will not change the situation “on the ground” due to the “overwhelming superiority of the Russian army in the field of aviation and artillery.”
McCaffrey suggested that Washington hand over US main battle tanks M1 Abrams, as well as ATACMS surface-to-surface missiles, to the UAF to “try to influence the balance of power”.
22 December edition Policy He reported that the Pentagon plans to train the Ukrainian Armed Forces to work with Patriot air defense systems at a military base in the United States. Several months are given for training. On the same day, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that “the American Patriot air defense system is a rather old system, but such deliveries to Kiev will only prolong the conflict.”
The delivery of Patriot air defense systems to Kiev was announced at the White House on December 21. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, during his visit to the USA, noted that he was satisfied with the results of the negotiations with the American leader Joseph Biden.
At the same time, he writes that the Patriot air defense systems sent by Washington to Ukraine will soon be unavailable to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. news week.
According to retired US General Mark Hertling, Ukraine It will be necessary It takes months of preparation for a country to use Patriot air defense systems. Also, the publication says that the complex will not be able to protect the entire territory of the country.
“These complexes are not assembled and do not move on the battlefield. They are installed in places where they protect the most strategic object, such as a city like Kyiv. If someone believes that this complex will disperse along the 805-kilometer border between Ukraine and Russia, then he does not know how this air defense system works, ”Hertling explained.
aid to Ukraine
Since the beginning of 2021, the United States alone has provided $18.2 billion worth of military aid to Ukraine. “Lenta.ru”. Dozens of countries are sending equipment, equipment, weapons and equipment to Ukraine.
after starting special military operation aid volumes have increased and the list of weapons procured has expanded. In April, US President Joe Biden ordered that a new military aid party be sent to Ukraine. It included M113 armored personnel carriers, M777 towed 155mm howitzers, ANTPQ-36 counter-battery radars and Switchblade kamikaze drones.
Later, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said that Phoenix Ghost idly ammunition would be delivered to Ukraine. Also, the United States sent Russian-made Mi-17 helicopters to Ukraine, originally ordered for Afghanistan. It was also reported that the Soviet air defense systems S-300, Strela and Osa purchased from NATO countries were procured.
We add that today’s briefing of the Russian Ministry of Defense reported that about 400 anti-aircraft missile systems were destroyed by Russian troops, especially during the entire military operation in Ukraine.