While this is good news for Ukraine, it can take months to integrate this new weaponry with its military operations. The Harpoons may not be available to Ukraine at least for several months since the Pentagon is still in the process of purchasingHarpoon launchers. Europe is also expected to contribute missiles to Ukraine. Once these have been delivered, Ukrainian troops will still have to be trained on how to use these Harpoon missiles for weeks outside Ukraine as they are not familiar with these systems.
Ukraine Seeks Expediency
Ukrainian government officials are communicating with world leaders about their need for faster transfer of weapons and additional support. Various military analysts highlight how crucial speed is when it comes to getting weapons to Ukraine in a timely manner. Logistics is critical for Ukraine in preparing for Russian advances beyond Severodonetsk and other areas.
The Armed Forces of Ukraine report an average of 200 men dead daily as the fighting rages on in Eastern Ukraine, with the Russians having control of 80% of Severodonetsk. The shift to a war of attrition has had implications for both Russia and Ukraine, with Ukraine’s experiencing a significant increase in daily losses.
Ukraine’s Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar has stated that they have only received 10% of the military assistance requested from their Western allies, which hampers their ability to fight the Russians head-on. According to Malyar, the Ukrainian army fires 5,000 to 6,000 artillery rounds per day, while Russia can expend about 10 times that amount. She further expressed that no matter how much heart and effort their forces commit to the fight, without the help of Western allies and their weapons, they “will not be able to win this war.”
Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and Gen. Mark A. Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, have also expressed their support for Ukraine during the 3rd meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group including 50 defense ministers from around the world. They were joined by Ukraine’s Defense Minister, Oleksii Reznikov. The purpose of the meeting was to create a course of action around the sourcing of weaponry from its allies.
NOW: U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Mark Milley speak after 51-nation meeting to arm Ukraine in Brussels.
President Biden just announced $1 billion more in US military aid for Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/rHQonfOBIa
— Jack Detsch (@JackDetsch) June 15, 2022
“We can’t afford to let up, and we can’t lose steam,” Austin said. “We must intensify our shared commitment to Ukraine’s self-defense, and we must push ourselves even harder to ensure that Ukraine can defend itself, its citizens, and its territory,”
This comes after Ukrainian Presidential Adviser Mykhailo Podolyak requested a faster transfer of heavy weaponry, including 1,000 155mm howitzers, 300 MLRS, 500 tanks, 2,000 armored vehicles, and 1,000 drones.
“Ukraine is under threat. They are at war, and we will continue to support them. But the rules-based international order is also under threat due to the actions of Russia in the Ukraine. The international community is not allowing this unambiguous act of aggression by Russia to go unanswered. To do so risks the world returning to an era when large, powerful countries can invade smaller countries at will,” Milley said.
Austin and Milley had also expressed that they understood Ukraine’s need for more heavy weapons urgently. However, they also stated that they are moving the weapons “as fast as we can.”
“I think the international community has done a pretty good job of providing that capability. But it’s never enough, Austin said. “And so we’re going to continue to work hard to move as much capability as we can as fast as we can.”
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