Can Western artillery stop Russia’s Donbas attack?
HIMARS “enemy forces can blow up the ashes of the area where they have gathered for an attack and neutralize an area”
Russia forces advance in the Donbas Ukraine forces artillery fire. Already USA Agreed to provide Ukraine with HIMARS systems capable of hitting targets from a long distance. Can this artillery stop Russia’s attack? RFE / RL correspondent Todd Prince is looking for an answer.
Russia Presidents Vladimir Putin The key to catching the donkey completely military set a target. Luhansk, one of the two regions of the Donbas, is already under capture. USA Russia currently has 110 battalion tactical groups in Ukraine. 8 of each group10 It could be an artillery device, a howitzer, or a rocket launcher USARetired Marine Corps, now Senior Adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington Mark Kankian He tells RFE / RL. Thus, Russia may have about 900 artillery pieces in the Donbas.
There is a lack of ammunition for howitzers
1997-20In the 00s NATOin Europe ali was an allied commander Wesley Clark last week warned that to fight in a new phase of the war Ukraine forces do not have artillery. “It is possible to lose this battle” He would say.
Russia since the beginning of the occupation in late February Of Ukraine military destroyed the industry. At the moment Ukraine The army lacks ammunition for Soviet-made artillery, including 152-millimeter howitzers.
Kankian says the largest suppliers of this ammunition are Russia and China.
“The United States has cleaned up the world in such a way that the Ukrainians do not have enough Soviet-standard ammunition,” he said. I think the places where such ammunition is sold have run out. ” Says the analyst.
“All our decisions are delayed”
The United States has long been reluctant to provide heavy artillery to Ukraine, and has refused to provoke Russia. According to some analysts, Biden The administration’s arms deal has been a waste of valuable time for Ukraine.
“All our decisions are delayed” – of the United States Europe Former commander of his army Ben Hocs He told RFE / RL.
“The administration has exaggerated the issue of not provoking the Russians,” he said. They do not need provocation. They are attacking without provocation. “ – he emphasizes.
Hodgs says the delivery of the missile systems will take several weeks, which is a waste of time.
President of Ukraine Volosimir Zelenski He said the situation in the Donbas was “extremely difficult” and that Russia was concentrating “maximum fighting forces” in the region. O, Of Ukraine 50 per day100 soldier added that he lost.
A few weeks…
According to analysts, heavy bombardment Of Ukraine It puts excessive pressure on supply lines, making it difficult for Western weapons to be delivered quickly to soldiers on the front line.
Of the West military The aid arrives in Ukraine by train from Poland, and then is delivered to the front line by truck. Russia is currently trying to cut off transport routes to the Donbas.
Hodgs says Ukrainian forces could feel the “positive impact” of artillery from the United States and other Western countries for weeks.
Clark believes that if Ukrainian forces receive enough artillery, they can withdraw Russia from the Donbas within two months, starting in July.
Then the land will dry up, it will be easier to attack, and Russia will have to mobilize more forces.
Eight to run an M777 soldier needed
The United States has been sending heavy artillery to Ukraine since April, including the M777 howitzer, which has a range of up to 40 km.
Kankian says that soldiers’ training in the use and maintenance of howitzers also takes time, which puts tension on their deployment to the front line.
So far, the United States has trained more than 400 people to operate the M777, and about 50 people have trained them. Eight to run an M777 soldier needed.
Biden HIMARS, whose administration has just been confirmed, is devastating. Military expert, president of the Jamestown Foundation Qlen Howard HIMARS says that “enemy forces can blow up the ashes of the area where they have gathered for an attack and neutralize an area.”
HIMARS consists of a launcher for six missiles. But unlike a howitzer that fires continuously, it takes five minutes to load the device. Kankian says HIMARS and howitzers “complement each other.”