Western weaponry helps, but Ukraine’s war effort still faces significant challenges

With much fanfare, Ukraine received approval to use Western-made long-range missiles against Russian military targets over a month ago.

However, after an initial surge of missile strikes, Ukraine has since reduced their use, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

Kyiv is running low on missiles and may also be running out of time. President-elect Donald J. Trump has publicly stated that allowing US-made long-range missiles to be used inside Russia was a significant mistake. While the missiles have been somewhat effective in specific instances, they have not altered the course of the war, according to senior NATO officials. The conflict has not escalated as some had feared. Despite Russia launching a powerful intermediate-range hypersonic ballistic missile at a Ukrainian weapons facility after the initial rounds of Western missile strikes, it has largely responded with its standard mix of drones, missiles, and threats.

Two US officials, speaking anonymously due to the sensitivity of the matter, suggested that Russia might be trying to avoid escalating military actions in Ukraine, particularly with Trump's election and Russia's recent battlefield gains. Adm. Rob Bauer, NATO’s highest-ranking military officer, recently stated that the strikes using the long-range ballistic Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) had “seriously hit a number” of weapons factories and ammunition depots in Russia. 

He added that this forced Russia to relocate many logistics facilities further from the frontlines.

“They don’t like the ATACMS coming in their own country, through the air — they don’t, because they are effective,” Admiral Bauer said in an early December interview.

“That limits their ability to fight effectively at the front, and that’s what you want,” he continued. “The question is, then, is it enough to win?” I

n many ways, the story of the ATACMS mirrors the broader experience with other Western weaponry in the war. 

Ukraine spent months and even years lobbying for Western arms like HIMARS rocket launchers, Abrams tanks, and F-16 fighter jets. However, by the time these weapons were granted, Ukraine had already lost more ground. Moreover, no single weapon has proven to be a "silver bullet." Western officials have also pointed out that Ukraine has relied too heavily on Western aid and has not done enough to strengthen its own military efforts, particularly in terms of mobilizing sufficient troops.

By Naila Huseynova