The United States and Germany have eased restrictions on the use of weapons by the Ukrainian military, while England, France, and the Netherlands have completely lifted their restrictions. These moves are expected to have a significant impact on the battlefield, making it unsafe for Russian forces to conduct cross-border shelling and maintain military supply centers near the border. The escalation of conflict is likely to reach inside Russian territory.
Following the relaxation of restrictions by the US government, the Ukrainian military promptly began shelling Russian territories near the border, especially in areas like Belgorod and Kursk being targeted by Western-manufactured missiles and long-range artillery. Just hours after US President Biden’s authorization, the Ukrainian forces used Javelin missiles to strike at the Russian border region of Belgorod. Belgorod serves as a key forward base and logistical supply center for Russian forces advancing towards Kharkiv. Reports from the Russian side indicate that at least one ammunition depot was hit, resulting in casualties.
Currently, the US government only permits the Ukrainian forces to use American-supplied Javelin missiles and artillery to target military objectives within Russian territory. However, the Ukrainian government believes this is insufficient since the Javelin missiles have a maximum range of only 70 kilometers, limiting their ability to target Russian airfields from which bombers could launch attacks on Ukraine. Based on the experience of this conflict, it seems that the lifting of such restrictions is only a matter of time.
In addition to agreeing to the use of ground attack weapons, Germany has also allowed the Ukrainian military to employ the Patriot air defense system, supplied by Germany, to target Russian warplanes in Russian airspace. Furthermore, a third set of Patriots donated by Germany is on its way and expected to be operational by June.
Overall, the Russian military’s efforts to mount a decisive offensive in the Kharkiv region have largely failed, with minimal advances made in the Sumy region, primarily consisting of reconnaissance and sporadic shelling. However, both the Russian and Ukrainian forces still face significant challenges, particularly in terms of insufficient manpower and inadequate military training.
Ukraine has long struggled with a lack of manpower and inadequate training for new recruits, as there is a shortage of instructors and limited training time. An article in The Washington Post highlighted that Ukrainian recruits receive only basic training at training centers, lacking complex tactical training.
In comparison, the Russian military has the advantage of a larger manpower pool and employs various methods for recruitment. However, this advantage has not translated into a widespread offensive capability and may even hinder the ability to simultaneously conduct offensives on two main fronts.
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