The main advantage of Russia: airstrikes will destroy the morale of Ukrainians – UnHerd

The weakness of the defenses and the lack of resources are not the only problems for the Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF).

This is reported by UnHerd.

Kiev is also concerned about Russian precision-guided bombs: they are capable of literally destroying the morale of Ukrainian soldiers. This weapon has become Moscow’s main advantage on the battlefield.

In recent days, the Ukrainian border city of Kharkiv has been subjected to Russian bombardment. Although the residents of Kharkiv have become accustomed to this after two years of fighting, advanced weaponry has added to the city’s dangers. The head of the regional police admitted that Russia could have used a new type of precision-guided bomb, which he called a “flying” bomb – according to him, it is something between a guided bomb and a missile.

This is unlikely to be the last attack on Kharkiv. Last week, President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that Russia is gathering forces for a spring offensive at the end of May or June. It seems that its main target could be Kharkiv. Last month, the independent Russian news outlet “Verstka” quoted Kremlin officials as saying that the Kremlin is preparing a “creeping” mobilization to provide an additional 300,000 soldiers to surround and besiege Kharkiv. Last week, the Commander-in-Chief of the UAF, Alexander Syrsky, admitted that Ukraine is strengthening the defenses of Kharkiv and warned that any attempt to capture the country’s second-largest city would be “fatal” for Moscow.

However, Syrsky’s confidence in Ukrainian defenses may seem unjustified, as the construction of a layered defense to deter Russian advances is progressing slowly. The necessary funding was only provided in January, and work began only on March 1. Although Ukraine intends to build three lines of fortifications totaling 2,000 km by the end of spring, concerns remain about the fragility of building materials, unsatisfactory construction pace, and shortages of everything from personnel to munitions. Kiev should take these issues seriously: it was precisely impregnable defensive lines that allowed Russia to withstand the Ukrainian counteroffensive last year.

The shortcomings of their own defense are not the only problem worrying Ukrainian commanders. Kiev suffers from a lack of weapons and delays in the delivery of American arms, while Russia benefits from the use of highly effective precision-guided bombs – conventional bombs equipped with wings and guidance systems.

Russia began using them last year, but recently significantly increased their production. They played a decisive role in Moscow’s February victory, which ended with the capture of Avdiivka near Donetsk. Ukrainian troops reported that the enemy drops 60-80 bombs per day – including on retreating soldiers. Precision-guided bombs can destroy multi-story buildings in one strike, are difficult to shoot down, and are capable of not only destroying Ukraine’s landscape but also its morale: even experienced fighters complain of nausea, concussion, and contusions from such powerful explosions.

These bombs are sure to become a key element of the upcoming Russian offensive – Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba noted last week that they are currently “Russia’s main advantage on the battlefield,” and Moscow dropped 700 such bombs on Ukraine from March 18 to 24 alone.