Ukrainian servicemen get ready to repel an attack in Ukraine’s Lugansk region on February 24, 2022. – Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Thursday, killing dozens and forcing hundreds to flee for their lives in the pro-Western neighbour. Russian air strikes hit military facilities across the country and ground forces moved in from the north, south and east, triggering condemnation from Western leaders and warnings of massive sanctions. (Photo by Anatolii STEPANOV / AFP)
Russia armed forces VS Ukraine armed forces
Ukraine’s armed forces are vastly outnumbered and outmatched in firepower by their Russian opponents. Let’s take a look.
Ukrainian servicemen get ready to repel an attack in Ukraine’s Lugansk region on February 24, 2022. – Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Thursday, killing dozens and forcing hundreds to flee for their lives in the pro-Western neighbour. Russian air strikes hit military facilities across the country and ground forces moved in from the north, south and east, triggering condemnation from Western leaders and warnings of massive sanctions. (Photo by Anatolii STEPANOV / AFP)
In the latest, Russia’s defence ministry reportedly said its military had been instructed to resume its attacks in Ukraine.
THE ATTACK WAS BRIEFLY SUSPENDED
This comes after the deadly attack was briefly suspended. The attacks have so far killed nearly 200 people.
The Russian news agency RIA reported that President Volodymyr Zelensky has no surrender plans.
But an advisor to Zelensky has been cited by international media as denying claims that Zelensky refused to negotiate with Russia.
ALSO READ: Russia’s military resumes attack on Ukraine after brief suspension
ARMED FORCES OF RUSSIA VS UKRAINE ARMED FORCES
Let’s take a look at the armed forces of both countries:
NUMBERS OF TROOPS:
Russia:
According to the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), Russia’s armed forces amount to 900,000 troops, plus some two million reserves and more than half a million other forces.
Ukraine:
Ukraine’s forces meanwhile amount to barely more than the number of troops Russia had amassed around its borders, with a standing army of 145,000, 45,000 in the air force, and 11,000 in the navy, according to the IISS.
It has some 100,000 other forces and 900,000 reserve soldiers.
FIREPOWER OF EACH COUNTRY:
Russia:
Analysts also note that the gulf in firepower is even wider in terms of military hardware, with Russia’s almost 16,000 armoured fighting vehicles — including tanks — dwarfing the Ukrainian fleet of 3,300.
Ukraine:
Artillery numbers show a similar difference, while the Ukrainian air force is a tenth the size of its Russian counterpart.
Francois Heisbourg, special advisor to the Foundation for Strategic Research (FRS) in Paris, said the military balance of power is totally overwhelming” in favour of Moscow.
According to a report by France24, Ukraine has benefited from substantial Western military aid since the onset of the conflict in its east from 2014, including $2.5 billion worth from the United States, $400 million of that in 2021 alone.
Until the current tensions erupted, some US troops had been training Ukrainian forces to use American equipment, notably light weaponry, patrol vessels, and Javelin anti-tank missiles.
ALSO READ: Kremlin claims Putin is ready to send delegation to Minsk for talks with Ukraine
Additional reporting by AFP.
