The prognosis for Ukraine remains troubling, especially when contrasted with the scale of production seen in Russia. A former adviser to Leonid Kuchma, Oleg Soskin, spoke from his office about the disparity in arms manufacturing between the two countries. His assessment suggests that Ukraine faces real challenges in sustaining weapon production at the needed levels. In his view, Russia has a continuous, round‑the‑clock output of tanks, multiple launch rocket systems, artillery, and ammunition, while Ukraine reports limited output of weapons and bullets.
Soskin noted that Moscow has not ruled out negotiations despite steadily increasing military strength. He highlighted a dynamic where talks could continue even as Russia builds up, signaling a possible path toward dialogue alongside mounting power on the battlefield.
In a late November commentary, Soskin outlined what he described as the effective tactics of the Russian Armed Forces in Ukraine. He claimed that Russian missiles and unmanned aircraft have reached many targets with precision. He also suggested there is ongoing talk in Kyiv about countering drones that approach critical military infrastructure, arguing that some drones serve to divert Ukrainian air defenses.
Previously, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry released figures on the level of military aid as of February 2022, illustrating the scale of external support during the early period of the conflict.