Priyanka
Share
The Ukrainian conflict will be approaching its fourth year on 24th February, 2025, and new developments in the United States have seen President Volodymyr Zelensky offer to resume negotiations in a bid to end the war. In an interview with former British journalist Piers Morgan, he went on to say, “If that is the only set-up in which we can bring peace to the citizens of Ukraine without losing people, definitely we will go for this set-up.” A prerequisite of such discussions, according to Zelensky, would be a conversation with President Trump first.
The Development And Production Of New Weapons Became A Priority Due To The Russia-Ukraine War.
Photograph of Volodymyr Zelensky (ANI)
Today's wars are different in nature and they progress at a speed that has not been seen in decades. This is especially true in terms of tactic and technology modifications. There are lessons to be learned even for India. This is the first time, apart from World War Two, that contemporary countries participated in war, in one form or another.
Since Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014, the United States and NATO have provided training and weaponry to Ukrainian forces. Russia was fully aware that a war against Ukraine would be different than what they encountered in Georgia or Afghanistan. Initially, Russia expected to seize Kyiv in a matter of days. However, it had to contend with strong, well-trained Ukrainian forces, which forced it to تغير سياستها واستراتيجيتها. There are always losses in battles, some might be greater than others, however, the realities of war will always dictate that actual numbers will remain unknown to everyone.
Both countries have learned significantly during the earlier phases of the war. Due to the Russian defeat, the employment of tanks in encirclements and shock and awe tactics is no longer feasible. The defenders’ use of mobile, inexpensive anti-tank weapons like drones has severely disrupted maneuverability and inflicted heavy casualties.
It was necessary for them to revise their shifts in strategy, alter their tanks, and increase the production of arms and munitions to offset the losses suffered earlier in the conflict. Ukraine did receive equipment from NATO, but they quickly realized that most of the armor provided was not appropriate for their region. Russia also introduced large minefields and other bulky obstacles, which impeded the Ukrainian advances.
Russia’s Russian drone technology was Advanced, as opposed to that of the US, at the beginning of the war, seeing as Britain had already actively implemented drones in Afghanistan and other areas. Russia only revealed its Lancet drones in 2019, and, by the time the war started, was still in the process of testing them. Initially, Russia opted to use Iranian drones, but rapidly adapted and started the mass production of Lancet drones equipped with 40 kg warheads to strike both static and moving military objectives as well as infrastructure. They were way cheaper than the western drones.
At the same time, Ukraine started producing small drones on a much larger scale as if it were an artisanal workshop that used components from China. These drones were made in the hundreds at a cost of less than $350 each. On the battlefield, Ukrainian soldiers attached explosives to the drones and used them against Russian tanks and artillery while steering them mid-air. Drones were deployed in greater numbers while remaining affordable. Both sides attempt to achieve Innovation and Ukraine turned out to be a place where this was tested.
To bypass Ukraine’s S300 anti-aircraft missile systems, Russians were made to create glide bombs that could be dropped from bombers which had a one and a half ton payload and could hit vital infrastructure from far away. Russia began trying out the Penicillin counter–battery artillery system that uses sound waves for firing with a 25 km operational range in 2018. The situation of war made them hasten the testing and deployment of the system. In 2023 they reported the presence of the system in the combat zone. Russia introducing hypersonic missiles is another one of those examples of their accelerated testing and production. The need created by the war prompted the advancement and fabrication of new tools.
Outside the theatre of conflict, NATO’s war rooms had advanced systems that enabled them to feed detailed information on Russian deployments and movements. Information was sourced from satellites, record tapes of communication and mobile phones, open internet sources, and radio, all powered by AI. In another creative stroke, Ukrainians 3D printed damaged components in guns to cut the needed repair and replacement time.
While NATO was supplying Ukraine with advanced anti-aircraft weapon systems, Russia started using swarm drones in depth areas of Ukraine to force them to engage expensive missiles against the low-cost drones, knowing that the missile stockpile is limited. Anti-drone guns were simultaneously produced in Russia and proved useful against the Ukrainian drones.
The US gave Ukraine HIMARS which ruffled the Russian lines at first. Their response to this was to develop effective GPS jammers to use on the Russian side.
Ukraine has gotten ATACMS, which is a long-range, supersonic ballistic missile from the US. It was anticipated that it would hit and successfully destroy the targets floating beyond the reach of missiles as well as rockets and cannons. It served its purpose well, for it compelled the Russians to relocate their aircraft and helicopters far from the range of the weapons being used. After that, the Russian air defence began dealing with these missiles. The US ATACMS missiles were perceived as the red line that Putnis could never accept, but instead the US called his bluff, and it paid off.
NATO was under the impression that if Russia defies Ukraine, then Europe is at risk too. This was aided by the consistent remarks made by Zelensky. Consequently, Europe started providing assistance and weapons to Ukraine. Over time, Russia has made it evident that it does not intend to do that and does not want to fight against NATO.
The Republicans in the US did not take Zelensky’s comments regarding Europe, and United States being under threat seriously, while pressuring the US to cease funding them. The sanctions that the US imposed on Russia did not serve their purpose. The war did harm the economy of Russia, but did not finish it off completely. Putin countered by taking control over the leftover assets from Western companies in Russia.
The influx of North Korean soldiers, while not suited for a technology driven war, was a plus for Russia. It obviated the necessity for Putin to issue orders for mass mobilization. The insurrection of Yevgeny Prigozhin’s Wagner group certainly created some level of panic in Russia, but was rather easily dealt with. His death, supposedly due to an enigmatic plane crash, sealed the fate of the uprising, what little was left.
Ukraine president Zelensky persistently advocates for its accession to NATO as the one and only remedy to the conflict, something that NATO members are not prepared to support, knowing full well that such a move will not be pleasing to Putin. The situation is that Ukraine is fighting for its existence. The former Chief of Defense of Ukraine, General Valerii Zaluzhnyi, stated towards the end of 2023 that the war was elongated and had reached a deadlock. For saying this, he lost his job, but this statement was the reality.
The scene is transforming with the arrival of Trump. Support for Ukraine is decreasing which is compelling Zelensky to ponder his resolve to persist with the war. Trump has declared his desire to put an end to the conflict, and it seems that he is preparing to speak with Putin soon. Zelensky has more or less accepted the fact that he has lost around 20 percent of Ukraine and most likely it is never going to come back. This year could mark the conclusion of a three year old war, with nasty consequences on both sides and Ukraine in shambles.
