While Ukrainian forces have just abandoned the town of Avdiivka, the army denounces a lack of ammunition and adequate equipment to face Russian offensives.
Ukraine struggles to maintain its defensive position along the front line extended over 1000 kilometers in the east of the country.
Many soldiers deplore a lack of ammunitionwhich requires them to use remaining stocks sparingly.
Olexander, a Ukrainian artillery commander, chooses his targets carefully: if an enemy vehicle carries only one occupant, it is not worth wasting equipment, according to him.
“If there are no real targets, I don’t shoot. That way, we will have ammunition left tomorrow“, he explains.
Some Ukrainians also denounce the failure of the equipment provided to them, because the military often has to use weapons dating from the Soviet era.
A drop in Western financial aid
The American Congress delay in voting the renewal of financial aid provided to Ukraine, which amounts to 60 billion dollars.
US President Joe Biden attributed the recent Ukrainian defeat at Avdiivka to the slowness of American deputies.
Western financial support for Ukraine’s war effort is generally declining, nearly two years after the start of the conflict.
“We are paying for this delay and reduction in aid with the lives of our soldiers” laments a Ukrainian brigadier.