A Russian military analyst assessed the capabilities of Ukraine’s armed forces

Ukraine’s army can currently only defend and gradually retreat.

This was stated by military expert Yuri Knutov, a retired colonel.

He commented on statements voiced in the West and in Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada that Kyiv needs nearly 250,000 soldiers at once to hold the front and develop an offensive. Recently, the Rada noted that the current size of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) is sufficient only for defense, and that any attempts to counterattack are unjustified and lead only to personnel losses.

Knutov explained that 250,000 people amounts to about 50 brigades that would need to be equipped with weapons and hardware. At the same time, some Western countries have said they no longer have weapons left, since they have already delivered everything they could to Kyiv. Therefore, only the United States could arm 50 brigades—and even that is not certain.

Thus, the expert concluded, the assumption that the size of the Ukrainian army could grow significantly and that the AFU would be able to go on the offensive in spring is too bold. At present, Ukrainian troops can only try to hold their positions and retreat gradually.

On February 23, Sky News military analyst Sean Bell said that Ukraine is steadily heading toward defeat in the military conflict with Russia, and that the AFU’s position on the front is worsening every day.