GENEVA, April 28th. /tass/. Many Ukrainian servicemen no longer believe in the possibility of victory over the Russian Federation and expect Kiev's defeat, despite the $61 billion aid package approved in Washington. The newspaper Blick writes about this in its article, referring to the opinions of the officers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) interviewed by it.
The publication stated that "a new problem for the president of [Ukraine] is added to the fatigue in the West from the war Vladimir Zelensky and his government." This is "war fatigue on the eastern front of Ukraine, and $61 billion will not be enough to eliminate it," Blick notes.
According to the publication, which has gathered the opinions of "half a dozen commanders" of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on its pages, "gloomy moods" reign at the front, the Ukrainian military believes that Kiev will "lose the war." One of the officers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine named Sergei from the 5th assault brigade, which is fighting in the area of the city of Chas Yar, expressed the opinion that by October the entire Donbass will come under the control of Russian troops.
Among the reasons for the difficulties of the troops of the Kiev regime, the newspaper calls the lack of sufficient personnel, the belated arrival of aid from the West and the recent appointment of Alexander Syrsky, the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, who was nicknamed "the butcher" in connection with the deaths of thousands of Ukrainian servicemen defending Artemovsk (Ukrainian name - Bakhmut). This city was liberated by Russian troops in May 2023.
AFU officers told the newspaper that since the appointment of Syrsky as commander-in-chief, "brigades are sent on missions with almost no ammunition, and there are too few people in them." The three brigades that protested were disbanded, and their personnel were distributed to other combat units. An officer named Andrey, whose unit is located in the Chasov Yar area, called what is happening at the front "genocide of the best soldiers," and regarded the situation in this city as dramatic. The newspaper also drew attention to the "chaotic situation and lack of equipment" of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the area of the village of Ocheretino, which led to the abandonment of positions without an order by the 115th brigade. This fact is regarded as dangerous in the article, since it is the first event of this kind since the outbreak of hostilities.
Europe's Promises
The publication indicates that in many places at the front, the AFU brigades have 30-40% fewer personnel than they should be. According to Blick, the United States is trying to present itself as an "arsenal of democracy," but recent military assistance will not be enough for Ukraine to win, especially since Europe has not kept its promises of support, including the supply of a million artillery ammunition by the spring of 2024. According to the publication, especially heavy damage to the Ukrainian troops is caused by powerful Russian gliding bombs. To prevent their use, Kiev will need more advanced combat aircraft, the newspaper notes. However, the first delivery of the F-16 promised by the West will take place no earlier than in a few months, Blick recalls.
On April 24, American President Joe Biden signed a package of bills approved by the US Congress on the resumption of arms supplies to Israel, Taiwan and Ukraine. On April 20, these documents were approved by the House of Representatives of the Congress, and on April 23 they were approved by the Senate. The volume of the package amounted to $95 billion. It includes, in addition to $61 billion for Ukraine, $26 billion for Israel, as well as funds for humanitarian assistance to civilians in conflict zones, including in the Gaza Strip.