In early November, Ukraine suffered the largest Russian attack since the beginning of the year: 120 locations were bombed in a 24-hour period.
Despite this, the world’s attention was on Gazawhere the radical militant group Hamas and Israel have been fighting a war since October 7.
Precisely, one of Ukraine’s biggest fears since the Russian invasion in February 2022 is that the support offered by the international community will decrease.
Without the military and financial backing of its partners, the Kyiv government would have little chance of resisting the Russian army on the battlefield and maintaining its air defenses, crucial to protecting its territory.
The confrontation in the Middle East began after a Hamas attack in several areas of Israel that left nearly 1,400 dead and more than 200 people kidnapped.
While the military response of the Israeli army in the Gaza Strip has caused more than 9,000 deaths, according to the Ministry of Health of the Hamas-controlled enclave.
This new scenario implies that Ukraine’s closest allies, such as the US, begin to discuss how they will divide military aid packages between both conflicts.
While all this is happening, a difficult war continues in the Eastern European country.
And its president, Volodymyr Zelensky, as well as its senior military commanders are trying to warn the world about the consequences that a Russian victory would have on its territory.
“A stalemate”
Some analysts claim that the war between Ukraine and Russia will be won by the side that can endure losses for as long as possible.
Valery Zaluzhny, commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian forces, echoed this premise and spoke in a publication about the “war wear.”
“Just like in World War I, we have reached a level of technology that puts us at a stalemate,” he said in an interview published Nov. 1 by The Economista major UK magazine.
In a story in which he detailed the five months of the Ukrainian counteroffensive to recover the territory occupied by Russia, he indicated that his country’s army managed to advance only 17 kilometers.
While Russia currently controls around 17.5% of Ukraine’s territory, with few changes along the front line in 2023.
In recent weeks, fighting has intensified around the eastern Ukrainian city of Avdiivka, with both sides suffering heavy losses while making little progress.
General Zaluzhny also described how both sides are now equipped with equally advanced technology that allows them to see the enemy’s movements.
As a result, he added, neither of them can move forward and achieve your goals.
Given this, the military called on Ukraine’s partners to provide it with even more precise weapons, with capabilities to repel artillery fire and equipment to destroy mines.
Russia’s casualties at Avdiivka could be the worst in 2023, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
“Russia may have suffered several thousand casualties (in Avdíivka) since early October 2023. Russian commanders continue to demonstrate their willingness to accept large losses in exchange for marginal territorial gains,” the statement said.
According to UK intelligence, Russia probably lost around 200 armored vehicles during the assault on that town, prompting them to switch to infantry attacks.
For his part, Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov insists that the war “is not at a stalemate” and that Russian troops will continue to advance on the battlefield.
The Russian Defense Ministry’s daily updates contain no references to casualties or major problems on the front lines. In these reports, the authorities of that country are dedicated to listing the losses of equipment and personnel suffered by Ukraine.
But some bloggers writing about the conflict in Russia sharply criticize top commanders for allegedly failing to provide enough training and support to units fighting in and around Avdiivka.
United States and Ukraine
After Michael Johnson was elected president of the US Congress, the speed and ease with which this partner of Ukraine provides it with new weapons and financial support is under review.
Johnson, a representative for the state of Louisiana, began his duties on October 25.
US President Joe Biden called on Congress to approve a $106 billion security package that included $61 billion in assistance for Ukraine.
But the new House speaker prioritized U.S. aid for Israel, saying that while his country “cannot allow Vladimir Putin to prevail in Ukraine, we must support our Middle Eastern ally.”
Johnson said that while he agrees with more aid for Ukraine, there was also a need to hold the White House accountable for the money.
Kyiv’s top security chief, Oleksiy Danylov, downplayed these comments: “We will be happy to provide all the information about the help, there are no secrets.”
Another new development is that in the US Congress there are those who support cutting aid to Ukraine to divert it to Taiwan.
Likewise, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky rejected information that was published in some media that US and European Union officials are pressuring Kyiv to negotiate with Moscow.
“Everyone knows my attitude, which coincides with the attitude of Ukrainian society… Nobody is putting pressure on me (to negotiate), not a single one of the leaders of the European Union or the United States,” he said at a joint press conference. with the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, in Kyiv, on November 4.
The president ruled out any conversation with Russia, but admitted that the war in the Middle East is taking attention away from Ukraine.
Echoing his top general’s request, Zelensky called on his international partners: “the United States, Europe, Asia,” to continue helping Ukraine because Kyiv “is defending the values they hold together” such as democracy.
In an interview with the American media NBC, He said any other outcome would be too dangerous.: “If Russia kills us all, it will attack NATO countries.”
Attacks against civilians
One of Ukraine’s main concerns as winter approaches is theIncrease in Russian attacks on key civilian infrastructuresuch as energy supply and transportation routes.
The increasing scope of the offensive makes it difficult for Ukrainian air defenses to provide effective protection.
The Eastern European country faces daily bombardments, carried out with artillery, rockets, missiles and drones. Areas closest to the front line and within range of Russian artillery suffer heavy human loss and destruction.
On October 31, a senior UN official told the UN Security Council that “Russian attacks are inflicting unimaginable suffering on the people of Ukraine and more than 40% are in need of humanitarian assistance.”
The UN formally confirmed that 9,900 civilians have died as a result of the war, but stated that “the real number is certainly higher”.
Ukrainians must also deal with diminished healthcare.
Since the conflict began, the World Health Organization reported more than 1,300 attacks on healthcare infrastructure such as hospitals.
Since the beginning of September this year, 13 health facilities have been attacked and 111 workers and patients have died, the UN highlighted.
Export agreement
Last month, Ukrainian officials transported grain through a narrow corridor on the western side of the Black Sea.
They crossed Romanian and Bulgarian waters until they reached Turkey, in an attempt to stay safe from Russian attacks.
This agreement only allows a limited amount of the food to be exported.
It is estimated that from August around one million tons of grain will leave Ukrainian ports via the new route.
Before the full-scale invasion, Ukraine exported up to six million tons.
While the current level of exports is half of what it was last October, it is still higher than expected.
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