Ukraine will struggle to fight off Russian advances without U.S. aid, military analysts warn
PBS NewsHourApr 14
Ukrainian Commander: Eastern Front Has 'Deteriorated Significantly'
Photo: Pres. of Ukraine via Flickr
The Facts
After weeks of Russian gains in the eastern Donetsk region, Oleksandr Syrski, the commander-in-chief of Ukraine's Armed Forces, conceded that the frontline situation in the country's east has "deteriorated significantly" in comments over the weekend.
Syrskyi said that fighting had intensified after Russia's presidential election last month and that Russia has actively been attacking Ukrainian positions in the Lyman, Bakhmut, and Pokrovsk sectors of Donetsk in recent days. He further stated that the situation around Chasiv Yar — 12 miles (20 km) west of Bakhmut — was particularly "difficult and tense."[
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
Delays in Western military aid to Ukraine will seriously hamper the country's ability to hold back Russia's advances. Three years into the war, Russia is deploying more advanced weaponry and is stepping up its firepower. It's more vital than ever that the US approves a new batch of military aid.
Pro-Russia narrative
Russian troops continue to advance in the Donetsk region, namely in the direction of Chasiv Yar. As was conceded in Ukrainian media, that's because experienced fighters know what fate awaits them and are sending the new troops out to die.
Nerd narrative
There is a 4% chance there will be a bilateral cease-fire or peace agreement in the Russo-Ukraine conflict in 2024, according to the Metaculus prediction community.