Ukraine’s top general says more airpower, weapons needed to break Russian lines
- 3 November, 04:59
The commander-in-chief of Ukraine's Armed Forces has said that Ukraine needed more technology and manpower to break through Russia’s defence lines.
Zaluzhnyi, known as Ukraine’s “Iron General”, wrote in an op-ed published in Economist that the situation in the frontline has reached stalemate as Ukraine lacks military equipment. He further detailed the military equipment Ukraine needed to end the stalemate and to win the war against Russia.
"Just like in the first world war, we have reached the level of technology that puts us into a stalemate… There will most likely be no deep and beautiful breakthrough", the commander said.
Zaluzhnyi stressed that air power was essential in boosting Ukraine’s counteroffensive. "Control of the skies is essential to large-scale ground operations," the general wrote.
Zaluzhnyi cited electronic warfare capabilities, such as jamming communications and navigation signals as a second priority in counteroffensive against Russia. "Technology is the answer," Zaluzhnyi said.
In a separate article published at Economist, Zaluzhnyi said that Ukrainian troops had been able to advance just 17 kilometers total despite the fact that pre-offensive planning indicated Ukraine should be able to move at a speed of 30 kilometers a day.
Ukraine’s counteroffensive has proven to be slow despite Western-provided military equipment due to minefields and Russian artillery and drones.
