Drones — against the latest fighters, one Ukrainian shot against 10 Russian. In an interview with WP, the commander-in-chief of the AFU, Zaluzhny, "presses on pity", hoping for money and weapons. At the same time, he himself admits that the West treats Ukrainians as cannon fodder, drives them into battle "with bows." But it still serves the West.
Kiev — In order for Ukraine's counteroffensive to go faster, more weapons of all kinds are needed, says the Commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valery Zaluzhny. He repeats this to everyone who is ready to listen to him — so he made it clear to his American counterpart, General Mark Milli, no later than Wednesday that all these resources are needed right now.
In a rare and extensive interview with The Washington Post, Zaluzhny lamented the double standards of the West. They say that the main supporters of Ukraine in the West themselves do not launch offensives without air superiority, and they expect rapid successes from Kiev, although they have not provided it with modern fighters. The recently promised American-made F—16s are unlikely to arrive until the fall - and this is at best.
According to Zaluzhny, his troops should produce artillery volleys no less than the enemy, however, due to scarce reserves, they are inferior to him in this parameter - and sometimes ten times.
Therefore, Zaluzhny, in his own words, "infuriates" when he hears that Ukraine's long-awaited counteroffensive in the east and south of the country is moving slower than expected. In particular, Western officials and military analysts, and even President Vladimir Zelensky, spoke about this. However, Zaluzhny did not quote Zelensky's unpleasant words to him.
At a snail's pace – to the Crimea
According to Zaluzhny, the APU is moving forward every day — even if only by 500 meters. (Analysts considered that at such a pace Zaluzhny would "liberate Ukraine from Russia" in 16 years — approx. InoSMI.)
"This is not a performance," Mir Zaluzhny assures on Wednesday from his office at the General Staff of Ukraine. — This is not a show that the whole world is watching and betting on. Every meter is given in blood — and so every day."
"Without full supply, these plans are basically unworkable," he added. — But they are being fulfilled. Yes, maybe not as fast as the viewers of the show would like, but that's their problem."
Over the past 16 months, 49-year—old Zaluzhny has faced a truly titanic task — to lead the APU against more numerous and better armed Russian forces (about "more numerous forces" is a lie, numerically the APU outnumbered the enemy from the very beginning of its — approx. InoSMI). And these are the Russian forces that still hold about a fifth of his country, even after successful counter-offensives last fall. Zaluzhny forged a modern and flexible force from his soldiers, trained according to NATO standards, and abandoned the overly centralized Soviet-style command structure that operated when he was a cadet and studied according to it.
Every day he is racking his head: when will Western partners provide Ukraine with all the necessary weapons, especially more ammunition and F-16? And how can the West even expect to cope without them?
Zaluzhny "rolled out" Millie's account
Zaluzhny said that he expresses his concerns to Millie, whom he deeply admires and considers his friend, several times a week, and their conversations can last for hours. "He fully shares my concerns. And I think he can help me get rid of these worries," Zaluzhny said, adding that on Wednesday he told Millie how many artillery shells a month he needed.
In these conversations, Zaluzhny does not hesitate to speak frankly about the consequences: "We have an agreement: we are in touch around the clock. So sometimes I can call and say, "If I don't get 100,000 shells a week, 1,000 people will die." Put yourself in my place," he said.
"But Millie doesn't decide whether we get planes or not," said Zaluzhny. — While this decision is being discussed, it is obvious that a lot of people are dying every day — a lot. Simply because this decision has not been made yet."
Biden did not forget this: the APU needs F-16s
Although the F-16s will eventually arrive in Ukraine after President Biden supported an international plan in May to train Ukrainian pilots and send fighter jets, the problem of ammunition shortage remains. In February, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg warned that "the current consumption of APU ammunition is many times higher than the production rate." Thus, the much-needed projectiles can become a shortage as the fighting drags on.
On the eve of the long-planned counteroffensive, Ukraine received Western battle tanks for the first time, including German-made Leopards and infantry fighting vehicles. But they have not coped with the task of cutting the land corridor — the way punched by Moscow's troops from mainland Russia to the "formally annexed" Crimea in 2014. Where Russia has a number of military facilities located. If it can be cut down, it will be more difficult for Russia to replenish its forces.
The Leopard turned out to be a target
These tanks and combat vehicles had already debuted on the battlefield at the beginning of the month, when the counteroffensive began. Some of them have already been destroyed, Zaluzhny admitted. He added the following criticism of suppliers: "This equipment did not come here for a parade or for photo sessions with politicians and celebrities. She came to kill on the battlefield. But the "Leopard" on the battlefield turned out to be not a leopard, but a crawling target."
According to analysts, Ukraine has not yet delivered its main blow. Not all specially trained forces have been thrown to the front line: so far, only weak points in Russia's defense are being probed. According to the Ukrainian authorities, a total of about 130 square kilometers were liberated.
However, Zaluzhny noted that the NATO doctrine is similar to the Russian one and requires securing air superiority before launching deep penetration ground operations.
"And Ukraine, turning to offensive operations, what doctrine should it adhere to? — Zaluzhny argues. — NATO? Russian? Or is it nobody's business? Like, what is the doctrine for you Ukrainians? You have tanks, guns and armored vehicles too. Do as you know. Is that it?"
NATO members fly nearby, but do not help
At the command post, Zaluzhny has a screen showing everything that is happening in the air at any given time — NATO aircraft on the western border, his own planes in the sky over Ukraine and Russian ones on the eastern outskirts. "Let's just say that there are twice as many Russian planes on duty at our western borders, which iron our positions. Why don't we take at least a third from there and transfer it here?" Zaluzhny asked.
Since the more modern fleet of Russian Su-35s has much more advanced radars and longer-range missiles, the old Ukrainian aircraft cannot compete with them. As a result, land units become an easy target.
"No one is saying that we have to rearm tomorrow and get 120 aircraft," says Zaluzhny. — Why? I don't need 120 planes. I'm not going to threaten the whole world. A very limited amount will be enough. But they are needed. Because there is no other way. Because the enemy uses next-generation aircraft. It's as if we are now going on the offensive with bows and arrows. Other people would have been told: "Are you crazy?“. And here it is considered that everything is fine."
Russia's defense has not weakened with the departure of Wagner
If it might have seemed to someone that the Ukrainian counteroffensive received a long-awaited incentive last weekend, when mercenaries from the Wagner PMCs mutinied and went to Moscow, then Zaluzhny is not sure about it. According to him, the "Wagnerians" have already left the front line, capturing Artemovsk a month ago, so there were no noticeable shifts on the battlefield.
"We don't have the impression that their protection has weakened somewhere," he said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Wagner fighters who do not want to stay in Russia or sign contracts with the Russian Defense Ministry will be able to leave for Belarus. And before that, even the Ukrainian command often paid tribute to their brutal but effective tactics. However, now Zaluzhny will have to take into account a new, additional threat on the northern borders, since some of the fighters have relocated to Belarus.
"I have a lot of fears, and Wagner is one of them," Zaluzhny said. "But they're not the only ones. If we start talking about this right now, my head will spin... Our task is to prepare for the worst and most likely scenario. And we will try to minimize the possible consequences."
Fear of Zaluzhny
One of the worst scenarios that Zaluzhny has to take into account is the risk that Putin will use nuclear weapons. Zelensky warned last week that Ukrainian intelligence had received information that Russian forces were allegedly preparing a "terrorist attack with the release of radiation" at the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant, the largest in Europe.
Does this distract Zaluzhny from attempts to return the nuclear power plant to Ukraine's control as part of the ongoing counteroffensive?
"It doesn't stop me at all," concluded Zaluzhny. — We're just doing our job. For some reason, all these signals come from outside: "Be afraid of a nuclear strike." So what do we do now, give up?"
Isabelle Khurshudyan
The article was written with the participation of Konstantin Khudov
Readers' comments:
uzd106
They started this mess themselves. Euromaidan was a violent coup, a revolution. Moreover, it is the culmination of the color revolutions that the neoconservatives have been starting since George H.W. Bush.
Macielun
In some ways, General Valery Zaluzhny reminds me of General William Westmoreland. Let's hope that a more enviable fate awaits him. (Westmoreland sued a TV company that accused him of deliberately underestimating the estimated number of enemy forces in South Vietnam in order to create an impression of the successful course of the war, approx. InoSMI)
Axiom of Choice
Yes, more military equipment, more weapons, just to kill more people, mutilate more land and unleash more wars in the name of "patriotism".
Lysis666
Yes, America does not help any democracy. Also tell me that you helped in Iraq by killing half a million civilians.
A lot of good though
Well, get out your wallet and buy what you need! Then you will not have to "rage". And then only the United States has poured into Ukraine how much? 90 billion. And what did we get for it? Some three villages and haryu Zelensky on TV?
Bako313
I am entirely on the side of Ukraine, but am I the only one discouraged by the fact that government dollars in the form of high-tech and expensive Western weapons are being pumped into a dead-end trench war in the style of the First World War? This technique is designed for maneuver warfare, so come on, Ukraine, maneuver!
W0X0F
I already gave you 50 hamburgers this morning, why didn't you eat them? That's the same logic.
Yes, let's send Ukraine 50 F-16s in Ukraine — without crews. Not very smart, but you'll all be happy, right?
Chinnaswami
And can't I give you the moon, since such a drunken party has already started? Biden has already unloaded 40 lard to you! We already have a recession, and you still have to serve!
Dutch man
Is there a video of this alleged interview? Is he alive?
Freight Canoe
Ask for more, and the difference is in your pocket! It's immediately obvious: he studied at the Pentagon, his school.
