Ukrainian officials have spoken of establishing territorial defense units and partisan warfare, but they admit that these resources are insufficient to thwart a Russian invasion. Many of them also admit that more troops are needed, and they fear that if the Russians invade the country, they will be met with airstrikes on ammunition depots and rocket attacks on trench-bound troops. If Russia were to invade Ukraine, Ukrainian military forces would be rendered ineffective and the frontline commanders would be left alone.
One possible solution is to build up the Ukrainian military. There are thousands of Ukrainians who are active in the military. The military units are often combined with reservists, territorial defense units, and volunteers, so that they form thousands of small groups that are able to attack Russian forces. The resulting force would make it impossible for the Kremlin to administer the occupied territories and secure supply lines. This would be an effective solution for Ukraine, and could give it a fighting chance.
But even with the additional military aid, Ukraine can’t expect the Russians to invade without American help. Although it has a large army and 300,000 war veterans, it may not be enough to prevent an invasion. And the costs of an invasion are rising as Ukraine consolidates its economy and invests in military equipment. But while Russia is clearly preparing for a potential invasion, they are not relying on Western forces to fight for it.
There are many arguments to support the idea that Ukraine can defend itself. However, most commentators limit themselves to suggesting equipment and training support. Others suggest extending the security guarantee and making Ukraine a member of NATO. Moreover, defending Ukraine will cost billions of dollars, including additional forces and supplies. These are not realistic solutions. But, if these options fail, the Ukrainian government can choose another solution. The question is: “Can Ukraine defend itself?”
There are many reasons why Ukraine is in danger of a Russian invasion. While the Ukrainian military chief understands that there are no NATO forces, the Ukrainian military will face Russian military action without the support of the alliance. That’s why foreign training missions have been set up in the country to assist Kyiv. As a result, a significant percentage of the US forces is in the region. The U.S. military is a major factor in any foreign attack.
The United States and NATO are divided on whether to send combat forces to the eastern part of the country. The U.S. and NATO are split on whether to send combat forces because this would lead to a wider European war. Furthermore, a direct conflict with Russia would risk Russia’s nuclear threat, which is very high. A major Russian invasion would result in high casualties and the occupying force is likely to be underprepared.
