'The threat of nuclear escalation proved to be the most powerful instrument in Russia's military toolkit,' a war analyst tells Newsweek.
was publicly shown personally overseeing strategic nuclear weapons exercises that involved two ballistic missiles flying thousands of miles to their targets on the far eastern Kamchatka Peninsula. Then, on February 27, the fourth day of the invasion, Putin was shown again on domestic television, this time ordering Defense Minister
and Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov to"transfer the deterrence capabilities of the Russian army to a special mode of combat readiness."A makeshift memorial in Independence Square in Kyiv, Ukraine displays flags bearing the names of fallen soldiers on July 24, 2023. While the country's Ministry of Defense does not release official casualty statistics, U.S.
The effects of that threat were visible from the start. Bielieskov referenced overall Western hesitancy in early March 2022 to provide Soviet legacy fighter aircraft to Ukraine–this despite Warsaw's willingness to transfer several of its Mig-29 aircraft eastward.
While the Western coalition supporting Ukraine decided this past summer that it would begin preparing to send F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, the planes themselves are not expected to be in the skies over the battlefield until at least the start of 2024. Throughout the war, similar delays have held back Ukrainian efforts.
"It took one-and-a-half months to debate HIMARS," Bielieskov said of the spring 2022 decision to supply Ukraine with the multiple-launch rocket system that has since compelled Russia to reorganize its logistical chains."As a result, for an extra six weeks Russia was able to utilize its artillery advantage to level Popasna, to destroy Severodonetsk, and by doing that, they inflicted major damage on Ukraine's professional military.
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
UN General Assembly calls for Russian reparations to UkraineThe U.N. General Assembly has approved a resolution calling for Russia to be held accountable for violating international law by invading Ukraine, including by paying reparations.
Read more »
Russian troops near Bakhmut likely 'battle-weary' as Ukraine advances: ISWUkrainian troops have recently liberated two key settlements south of Bakhmut, which could be a sign that Russia's forces in the region are degrading.
Read more »
Coal from Russian-annexed Ukraine sold in NATO member TurkeyAt least $14.3 million worth of coal produced in areas of Ukraine annexed by Russia has been exported to NATO member Turkey this year, according to Russian customs data reviewed by Reuters.
Read more »
Ukraine intercepts 27 of 30 Russian Shahed drones, sparking inferno at Lviv warehouse and killing 1A Ukrainian governor says Russia launched a massive drone attack on the western city of Lviv, damaging a warehouse facility in a fiery blaze and killing one man
Read more »