Ukraine’s success in its offensive against the Russian invaders did not frighten the country’s allies and friends, Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said.
“I think if anyone was surprised, just based on the reports that we’ve seen in terms of the Russian military’s response, it was probably the Russians,” he declared.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced to reporters that Ukrainian military personnel had freed over 2,300 acres of land from Russians. Zelenskyy stated that Ukrainian troops are pressing Russian troops northeast of Kharkiv as well as a lot of intruders have fled across line into Russia.
“Certainly, since the beginning of Russia’s invasion into Ukraine, we’ve seen the Ukrainians demonstrate a remarkable adaptability and their ability to use their warfighting capabilities to great effect,” Ryder stated during an Pentagon news conference. “So, it’s not surprising to us that they have pushed as quickly as they have.”
The Ukrainian military also made use of military opportunities that presented themselves on the battlefield. The Kharkiv offensive is proof of this, according to the general.
Western weapons and supplies contributed to the successful counteroffensive and at a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in Ramstein Air Base, Germany, secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and counterparts from nearly 50 other nations pledged to keep the supply chain moving and to increase the amount of aid that could be applied to mid-term and longer-term Ukrainian security, Ryder said.
Russians unprovoked invasion of Ukraine could be a blow to the global rules-based system which has stopped wars between large powers since the conclusion of World War II.
“Secretary Austin and other U.S. government leaders continue to regularly engage with our Ukrainian counterparts,” Ryder stated in the press meeting. “I think last week’s meeting at Ramstein is a good example of how seriously we’re taking this and that we are constantly engaged in a dialogue to determine what are the needs of our Ukrainian partners, based on the conditions on the ground.”
In the offensive, Ukrainian forces have been using the equipment they have with great success as they’ve altered the dynamic in the battle, the general said. The Ukrainian military also has learned as the conflict has continued. The Ukrainian military has also adopted NATO combat tactics using the use of combined arms in the course of war. The Ukrainian military has been capable of integrating older Soviet-era military gear to use the latest tactics, and beat the Russians. Ukrainian military personnel also studied western equipment like M777 howitzers and HIMARS and drones. They were able to use them with the old systems and incorporate these into the strategies they use.
“It is just that remarkable adaptability on the battlefield to be able to take advantage of the opportunities that exist to use not only equipment that they’ve already had in their inventory, but the equipment that has been provided to them by the U.S. and other international partners,” Ryder said. “So, it is very evident that they continue to figure out ways to fight.”
The fifth Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting at Ramstein Air Base last week represents a worldwide campaign to aid Ukraine and uphold the order based on rules. Russia is a solitary country. This isolation is exemplified by being the only two countries that have supplied arms for Russia are Iran and North Korea.
The war is not certain, but currently, “Ukraine continues to use the aid provided by the United States and other international partners to great effect on the battlefield in their fight to defend their country,” Ryder said.
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