Ukraine’s Defence Minister, Rustem Umerov, has stated that half of pledged Western military support to Ukraine fails to arrive on time, complicating the task of military planners and ultimately costing the lives of soldiers in Russia’s war.
He made this disclosure at the “Ukraine. Year 2024” forum in Kyiv, which came a day after the second anniversary of Moscow’s full-scale invasion.
Umerov stressed that each delayed aid shipment meant setbacks, Ukrainian troop losses, and underscored Russia’s superior military might.
According to Umerov, Russia spends up to 15% of its entire GDP in its all-out attack on Ukraine.
“We look to the enemy: their economy is almost $2 trillion, they use up to 15% official and nonofficial budget (funds) for the war, which constitutes over $100 billion annually. So basically whenever a commitment doesn’t come on time, we lose people, we lose territory.”
Rustem Umerov
F-16 jets promised by an international coalition including the Netherlands, Norway and Belgium are yet to arrive in Ukraine. They are expected some time this spring.
Umerov said that history showed that it was impossible for any country to win a war without “air superiority.”
Despite these disadvantages, Umerov said that Ukraine has won back the Black Sea, using drones to sink Russian warships.
The Defence Minister added that Ukraine has also clawed back territory in the north-east and south of the country; a reference to the 2022 liberation of Kharkiv oblast and the city of Kherson.
Additionally, Umerov disclosed that his troops have built new fortifications and “thousands of strongholds.”
He said that a “strong” military strategy is already in place for the coming months, but did not disclose details.
“We have a plan. We are working to the plan. We are doing everything possible and impossible. But without timely supply [of western arms] it’s hard for us,” he stressed.
According to the Minister, Russia’s war with Ukraine is the first war where smartphones are weaponized.
“This is the first war of such a scale where within several minutes, information is spread by hundreds and even thousands of communication tools, where we face ‘anonymous sources’, unprecedented propaganda and information attacks.”
Rustem Umerov
He noted that the support of mass media and various institutions for the war effort is critical in this regard, because “our weapon in the information war is truth, and our main goal is to convey it to the world.”
Moreover, Umerov touched on the subject of corruption.
“For me corruption at a time of war is worse than terrorism,” Umerov stated.
He said that his colleagues working with other government agencies were taking measures to “eradicate corruption routes” and to prevent the problem.
Umerov And Syrskyi Visit Frontline
Earlier on Sunday, February 25, 2024, Umerov and the Ukrainian military’s Commander-in-chief, Oleksandr Syrskii, toured front-line combat posts.
They announced the reinforcement of some sections of the front line during a visit to the front.
“During the visit, we analyzed the current situation in detail and discussed the necessary further steps, primarily to protect troops from drones and air strikes by anti-aircraft missiles, as well as to strengthen certain parts of the front,” Syrskyi wrote on Facebook.
Syrskyi noted that the “situation is complicated (at the front) and requires constant monitoring,” adding that he emphasized the importance of coordination among the defense forces.
“Despite the difficult situation, our soldiers are bravely holding their lines and positions. The enemy is suffering irreparable losses,” he said.
The General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces reported that Russia has lost 409,820 troops in Ukraine since the beginning of its full-scale invasion.
This number includes 810 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.
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