As Russia increases its arms output and tech capabilities, the risk of military actions spreading beyond eastern and southern Ukraine grows. This assessment was shared by Lieutenant General Sergei Naev, commander of the Joint Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, in a discussion with ABC News.
“We are preparing for this. We are building defensive structures, laying mines and readying our forces,” Naev stated.
ABC News notes that while Ukraine achieved early gains in Kharkiv and Kherson, the southern counteroffensive over the last five months has yielded limited results. The article’s writers believe Moscow has adjusted its approach, deploying modern weapons and leveraging air superiority, which influences how the conflict unfolds.
“Technology Is Essential”
Naev emphasizes that winter will bring air strikes as the main threat to Ukraine. ABC News highlights a large training center for mobile air defense units located at a secret site in northern Ukraine.
According to the general, every bit of international assistance is funneled into creating mobile fire brigades that will safeguard every square meter of space. Military personnel are training to counter small drones using various anti-aircraft weapons. Journalists observed one training session where it took about five minutes to shoot down a drone, yet it still managed to maneuver in the sky.
In real-life scenarios, the report notes, Ukrainian forces would likely rely on modern Western air defense systems to neutralize drones, which means firing missiles that can cost far more than the drones themselves.
Naev described the conflict as a fight for resources. He also claimed Russia has received military aid from North Korea and Iran, a claim Moscow has repeatedly denied.
“We are confronting the Russian Federation and its resources with the help of our partners who supply air defense systems. It is essential to understand that cutting aid would significantly impact our defensive capacity. Still, we will fight with what we have,” Naev asserted.
ABC News reports that Russia launched more than 800 unmanned aerial vehicles into Ukraine over the last two months. They note that, despite Ukraine training hundreds of mobile air defense groups, this phase of the conflict is not about sheer numbers, but about effectiveness against drones.
Naev reiterated that “technology is crucial.” He pointed out that Western weapons enable fewer rounds to achieve the same impact, underscoring the importance of continued Western support for Ukraine.
Aid Is Being Cut
The deteriorating situation in the Middle East and partisan divides in the United States have led Washington, a key ally, to reduce military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine. The European Union also faces shortfalls: the bloc aimed to send 1 million artillery shells but encountered production problems and rising ammunition costs.
Additionally, not all EU leaders back continued support for Kyiv. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has repeatedly resisted additional aid packages and new sanctions against Russia, even threatening to block Ukraine’s EU accession decisions.
Nearby Poland reduced assistance amid a dispute over grain supplies. Polish leaders initially signaled they would halt weapon transfers, then clarified that weapons would be supplied only within the framework of existing contracts.