The De-Militarization Of Ukraine Continues...

The De-Militarization of Ukraine Continues

Larry Johnson 

Sending new arms to Ukraine (a popular talking point among U.S. and British politicians) is a stupid and empty gesture. Why? There is no organized, intact Ukrainian military force capable of receiving and using these weapons. You want evidence? I want to remind you again of the breathless reports that filled Western media two weeks ago about Russian tank and truck columns “stalled” north of Kiev. Some media claimed the column was 40 miles long while others reported it as 40 kilometers (for the math challenged among you, 40 kilometers equals 24 miles).

That is a big fat target that a functional, competent military force would consume. But that column sat in place for at least a week. My Air Force buddy who flew missions against North Vietnamese vehicle columns back in 1970 described how he would first hit the lead vehicle, then the trailing vehicle and then destroy everything in between. We did not see that in Ukraine. There was no significant destruction rained down on the Russian column from the air. And where was the Ukrainian cruise missiles. Those should have been launched (if they existed) and could have caused enormous damage. That did not happen. There also was no Ukrainian artillery barrage on the supposedly “stalled” column.

And where was Ukraine’s infantry? Ukrainian soldiers have received thousands of anti-tanks weapons (e.g., Javelins and NLAWs). The NLAW has an effective range of 800 to 1000 meters. 

Friday’s briefing by the Head of the Main Operational Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, Colonel General Sergei Rudskoy (Colonel General is equivalent to at least a three star general in the U.S. Army):

Currently, the Ukrainian air forces and the air defense system have been almost completely destroyed. The naval forces of the country ceased to exist.

Sixteen main military airfields were defeated, from which combat sorties of the AFU aviation were carried out. Thirty nine storage bases and arsenals were destroyed, which contained up to 70% of all stocks of military equipment, materiel and fuel, as well as more than 1 million 54 thousand tons of ammunition.

All 24 formations of the Land Forces that existed before the start of the operation suffered significant losses. Ukraine has no organized reserves left.

Losses are replenished at the expense of mobilized persons and personnel of the territorial defence forces who do not have the necessary training, which increases the risk of large losses.

At the time of the start of the special military operation, the Armed Forces of Ukraine, together with the National Guard, numbered 260 thousand 200 servicemen. During the month of hostilities, their losses amounted to about 30 thousand people, including more than 14 thousand – irretrievable and about 16 thousand – sanitary.

Of the 2,416 tanks and other armored fighting vehicles that were in combat on February 24, 1,587 units were destroyed; 636 units out of 1,509 field artillery guns and mortars; 163 out of 535 MLRS; 112 out of 152 aircraft, 75 out of 149 helicopters; 36 Bayraktar TB2 UAVs – 35;

180 out of 148 S-300 and Buk M1 air defence systems; 300 out of 117 radars for various purposes.

The destruction inflicted on the Ukrainians by Russia is vast. If Ukraine still had a viable air force they would be challenging Russian combat aircraft and carrying out airstrikes on Russian positions. I have seen no reports in Western media about such actions.

In cities, such a Mariupol, that are besieged by Russian forces there has been no visible attempt to provide air support, artillery fire or reinforcements. The AZOV battalion left in an ever shrinking perimeter in Mariupol have no way out and are running out of ammunition and food. No soldier in the world survives long without ammo and chow.

There is evidence that a growing number of Ukrainian soldiers in other parts of the battlefield are surrendering (hat tip to Andrei Martyanov. If Andrei is not on your daily must read you should add him):

The delusional, wishful thinking that infects Western media was on full display yesterday (Friday). Sky News put up this article, Ukraine war: Russia appears to scale back invasion ambitions – but UK warns bombardment of cities will continue. Here is how Sky News reported on General Rudskoy’s briefing cited above:

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