Kiev, First Published Apr 15, 2022, 6:54 PM IST
How can Ukraine survive, despite being equipped with state-of-the-art weapons and a large military contingent from land, air and sea at the same time?
There are many answers to the question of how a small country like Ukraine can retaliate against a superpower like Russia. The most important of these is outside help. Apparently allies in the war, or NATO nations including the United States and Britain, are helping Ukraine in the fight against security. Many foreign countries supply Ukraine with sophisticated weapons, as well as outdated but powerful weapons. These foreign weapons flow into Ukraine by rail. A special investigative report published by the New York Times shows that the missile defense system of the former Soviet Union was thus leaked to Ukraine.
Missile defense systems have played a key role in counteracting Russian warplanes, missiles and rockets that have landed to burn down Ukraine. This huge weapon, which Ukraine received from foreign countries before the war, destroyed several Russian airstrikes halfway through. However, many of these weapons have been destroyed in the ongoing Russian offensive. Following this, Ukrainian President Selensky called on NATO nations to resist air strikes. But instead of sending its own warplanes to protect Ukraine’s skies, the US – led NATO alliance has decided to secretly supply Ukraine with new weapons. That way, new weapons would flow into Ukraine via trains crossing the border. The arrival of these new weapons is a major setback for Russia, which has stepped up its efforts to destroy Ukrainian cities from the skies, in the confidence that it has destroyed Ukraine’s aircraft and missile weapons.
Weapons from foreign countries flow into Ukraine in many ways. Some countries that have fuel deals with Russia do not directly intervene in this matter. Instead, weapons are smuggled in through other countries. Some other countries, such as the United States, are offering aid to countries close to Ukraine and trying to bring their weapons into Ukraine. Some other countries bring various types of weapons directly to the Ukrainian border. These reach the Ukrainian army by train.
Slovakia is a major arms supplier to Ukraine. They provided Ukraine with its own Soviet-built missile defense system. They were taken to the village of Dobra on their border and from there to Ukraine by rail. Slovakia provided Ukraine with a missile defense system consisting of 48 surface-to-air missiles and four launchers and radars. Slovakia provided Ukraine with the missile defense system after the United States promised to replace it with state – of – the – art Patriot missiles. The Pentagon on Wednesday held talks with US arms manufacturers to address criticism that the United States is doing little to help Ukraine. The purpose is to supply more weapons to Ukraine.
The Czech Republic has provided Ukraine with its T72 tanks and short-range air defense system. In addition to MiG-29 fighter jets and self-propelled howitzers, the New York Times reports that Ukraine will supply more weapons to the Czech Republic and Poland. The Czech Republic is a country that has not yet taken a stand on the Ukraine war. Australia, which is similarly sidelined, is also secretly supplying arms to Ukraine via Slovakia.
Hungary, meanwhile, has publicly stated that it will not supply arms through its own country, but secretly smuggles large quantities of arms to Ukraine via Slovakia. The New York Times reports that Hungary has refrained from questioning this. The United States supplies arms to Ukraine mainly through Poland. The U.S. advanced weapons, such as the Javelin, Enlo, and Stinger missiles, were brought to the Ukrainian border via Poland.
In anticipation of this danger, Russia has announced that it will block the import of foreign weapons at any cost. It is in this context that the Russian Foreign Minister announced that he would stop the supply of weapons through Slovakia.
Last Updated Apr 15, 2022, 7:00 PM IST