According to a US veteran fighting in Ukraine, he and his fellow soldiers were successfully defeating Russia in a crucial town. However, their progress was impeded when they ran out of ammunition, forcing the Ukrainian forces to withdraw.
In the lead-up to the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from the town, he claimed that Ukraine had been successfully overpowering the enemy in Avdiivka.
Ukraine had to withdraw from the conflict, even though they were able to inflict more casualties on the Russians than they received. The main reason for this decision was a lack of ammunition.
Jackie vividly remembers the intense moments before the Ukrainians retreated from Avdiivka. She reflects, “In those critical moments, we were under constant fire from Russian munitions. It felt like a relentless barrage, with approximately 20 projectiles coming our way for every one we managed to fire back.”
Shortages in Avdiivka
This Article Includes
Ukraine decided to withdraw from the town in February, as it had become a primary target of Russia’s renewed offensive. This strategic move proved to be a significant win for Russia, marking its first major victory in several months.
The White House has been critical of Republicans for months, accusing them of stalling further aid for Ukraine. According to the White House, this delay was due to Ukraine’s severe shortage of ammunition.
Jackie concurred, stating that “that’s exactly how I see it” regarding what went wrong.
The image above shows a photograph taken by Alexander Ermochenko for REUTERS.
According to the official, his men experienced the impact of dwindling Western aid even before they arrived in Avdiivka. He mentioned that his troops were accustomed to battling with insufficient resources, as the provision of Western aid has been inconsistent since the start of the full-scale invasion in February 2022.
According to him, the situation has recently deteriorated significantly due to the delay in US aid caused by American politics.
“At one point, my men had to rely on keeping a few shells in reserve,” he explained, “but eventually we had to start using those as well.”
Jackie described the situation as getting even worse. She mentioned that the crew was waking up the next day and realizing that there might be no, one, or two rounds they could shoot.
According to him, the shortages had a significant impact on their ability to prevent Russia from arming its troops as effectively as they did earlier in the battle.
During their initial week in Avdiivka, the soldiers under his command successfully managed to sever several of Russia’s supply routes into the battlefield. However, their ability to continue this operation came to a halt as they ran out of ammunition.
According to him, the reconnaissance team of the unit would inform him that they had spotted Russian trucks carrying shells entering Avdiivka. He anticipated that this valuable information would prompt Ukraine to target those specific areas. However, due to a lack of ammunition, Ukraine was unable to carry out the operation.
The image used in this article is credited to Libkos/Getty Images.
This change in circumstances meant that Ukraine was no longer able to utilize a crucial tactic.
Jackie emphasized the importance of suppressing these movements and logistics routes in our tactical fight. She mentioned how they had a plan in place and were ready to execute it, but unfortunately, they missed the opportunity due to a technical issue with their shells.
Ukraine finds itself consistently at a disadvantage in this ongoing conflict, with its forces often outnumbered and outgunned by a superior Russian military. As time passes, this disparity in ammunition and manpower becomes increasingly evident and challenging for Kyiv’s troops.
Ukraine was fighting better
Despite facing overwhelming odds, Ukraine has managed to prevent Russia from seizing control of the country and making substantial advancements in the eastern region. The country’s military has earned praise from numerous warfare experts for their strategic acumen and the high level of training exhibited by their soldiers.
According to Jackie, the Ukrainian forces had the upper hand in training, tactics, and doctrine, which enabled them to outperform the Russians, even in Avdiivka. He noted that in the weeks leading up to the withdrawal, the Russian units were facing significant defeats.
According to his description, Russian tactics in Ukraine are deemed nonsensical. He further argues that despite their advantage in weaponry, the Russians tend to miss a lot, which ultimately diminishes their edge. On the other hand, Ukraine needs to enhance its accuracy in order to fully capitalize on its own weaponry.
Jackie, an instructor with the military, has had first-hand experience in combat in various regions of Ukraine. Although he was near the town of Avdiivka, he did not directly engage in frontline operations. Instead, he focused on gathering valuable testimonies from his unit, which would prove instrumental in refining future tactics and enhancing training methods.
According to him, his men managed to defeat a significant number of combat troops who were recklessly attacking them. However, Ukraine’s defense was ultimately not sustainable. Additionally, his men ensured that a safe passage was available for Ukrainian troops to retreat.
The copyright for this content belongs to Khorne Group/Telegram.
According to the Institute for the Study of War, it is believed that the number of Russian soldiers who lost their lives while attempting to capture Avdiivka is higher than the casualties suffered during the entire Soviet-Afghan war. The Soviet-Afghan war, which resulted in an estimated death toll of up to 25,000, pales in comparison to the losses suffered in the battle for Avdiivka.
Jackie confidently stated that “the number of men we lose is nowhere near as high as the Russians. I can personally guarantee you that.”
According to him, the situation was even more dire for Russia compared to Bakhmut, an eastern city infamous for being the site of the most brutal and challenging battle during the war.
However, Ukraine was still compelled to evacuate Avdiivka.
According to The Washington Post, Russian forces in the region outnumbered Ukrainian troops by a ratio of seven to one. The report also stated that Russia conducted as many as 60 guided aerial bomb attacks per day, while Ukraine faced difficulties due to its limited counter-air capabilities.
Ukraine’s struggles continue
In Avdiivka, the situation reflects the larger challenges Ukraine is currently facing. Russia possesses a superior number of troops and advanced weaponry, and appears to be willing to endure significant casualties in order to achieve its goals.
Despite European countries announcing new aid packages in recent days, the deficit in support still remains as aid from the US continues to be stalled.
The copyright for the image belongs to Vlada Liberova/Libkos/Getty Images.
Ukraine’s president issued a warning last month, expressing the urgent need for more aid from the US. He emphasized that if the necessary support did not arrive soon, Ukraine would be forced to retreat. Numerous warfare experts have stated that Ukraine, despite successfully repelling Russian mechanized assaults, could still emerge victorious if provided with adequate supplies. However, President Zelenskyy emphasized over the weekend that without any changes, the outcome for Ukraine would be defeat.
Jackie mentioned that his unit is currently facing difficulties due to a shortage of ammunition.
He urged the US to resume its support for Ukraine, emphasizing that Ukraine effectively utilizes the assistance it receives and effectively undermines Russia by inflicting significant damage to its troops and equipment.
“I want to reach out to supporters from all over the world, but particularly from America since I am American myself. Rest assured, we are making the most out of every single opportunity and resource available to us.”
