CHAPTER 11 WAR MACHINES: HOW THE ARMED FORCES LINED UP

Ukraine is a military minnow compared to the might of the Russian war machine. David v. Goliath, if you like.

Of 142 countries with ready-to-battle armed forces, Russia ranked No.

Seemingly running counter to the numbers, it was a surprise when the West learned Russia had apparently sought military equipment from China.

Other US officials said that Russia was running short of some weapons as the conflict dragged on.

But a spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Washington said the embassy was unaware of any suggestions that China might be willing to help Russia.

“China is deeply concerned and grieved on the Ukraine situation,” the spokesperson said. “We sincerely hope that the situation will ease and peace will return at an early date.”

The US warned China would face consequences if it aided Russia.

American officials, including White House press secretary Jen Psaki, have been increasingly critical of Beijing’s response to Russia’s war in Ukraine.

While Beijing has seemingly tried to strike a neutral tone on the international stage, Chinese domestic media coverage has promoted Russian disinformation campaigns and described the war as a “special military operation,” and rarely referred to war.

Psaki also tweeted that Beijing “seemingly endorsed” false Russian claims that the US was developing chemical weapons in Ukraine.

Precise figures are hard to obtain from the countries individually about their armory, but intelligence agencies can make close estimates.

Starting with military spending:

Ukraine’s annual military budget is put at $US 5.4 billion (3% of GDP). Russia’s is put at $US 61.7 billion (4.3% of GDP). That Ukraine’s percentage of GDP is so high likely reflects awareness that the country’s neighbor posed a threat.

In terms of boots on the ground, Russia had a massive advantage, although hand-to-hand combat was unlikely to be the way the outcome was decided.

With reserve personnel, Ukraine was believed to have 1,149,646 available — Russia 34,765,736.

In terms of Hardware, Ukraine clearly was outnumbered.

Russia had 2,750 tanks ready (18,000 in storage) — Ukraine had 1,150 (1,435 in storage).

Russia had more than 1,500 combat aircraft ready — Ukraine had 139. Poland offered to send its Russian-built fighter planes to the Ukraine air force in exchange for an US supply of its lates fighter planes. The US promptly killed the idea for fear it would be seen by Russia as an act of war.

Russia had around 400 combat helicopters — Ukraine had 139.

Russia had 82 combat vessels — Ukraine had 10.

Russia had around 9,000 units of artillery ready (around 17,000 in storage) — Ukraine had 1,952.

For the invasion of Ukraine, warships and long-range bombing aircraft would not likely be a direct factor.

Ukrainians though were right to fear airstrikes, missile, and rocket attacks. Russia deployed them from the beginning of the action, causing widespread destruction and many casualties.

The Ukrainian military gave stiff resistance to the Russian troops with the new weapons being provided by the West. Russia

The Russian military used warplanes and Kalibr (Caliber) cruise missiles to attack Ukrainian facilities.

The Kalibr is a precision weapon, with Russia firing them at Ukrainian military facilities and government buildings but also causing civilian casualties.

The Russian-designed Grad (Hail), Smerch (Tornado) and Uragan (Hurricane) multiple rocket launchers also were used to fire a salvo of powerful rockets at troop units or military equipment.

The BM-21 (Grad) is one of the multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) used by the Russian army. One battalion of 18 launchers can deliver 720 rockets in a single volley. The rockets are unguided and have lower precision than typical artillery; they cannot be used in situations that call for pinpoint accuracy.

Russia has been accused of using cluster bombs in Ukraine. If true, a war crimes prosecution would be likely.

Cluster bombs, also known as cluster munitions, are missiles that explode in the air to release mini-bombs over a large area.

The missiles can be launched from the ground by heavy truck-mounted systems or dropped from planes. But they are often unreliable and many fail to explode, posing a potentially lethal threat to adults and children who find them.

Russia also operates the TOS-1A heavy flamethrower system, a multiple rocket launcher mounted on a tank chassis. Unguided artillery rockets have thermobaric warheads. US defense officials said Russian mobile launchers for thermobaric weapons were seen inside Ukraine, but couldn’t confirm their use.

Thermobaric weapons are also known as vacuum bombs because they suck the air out of the lungs of their victims.

A thermobaric weapon explodes in two stages. In the first stage, the bomb detonates, damaging its immediate surroundings with potentially lethal force.

It then releases a cloud of toxic chemicals into the air that can spread into nearby buildings or shelters.

Seconds later, the bomb detonates a second charge that ignites the chemicals, creating a massive shock wave.

This shock wave is capable of vaporizing human bodies.

It also burns up the oxygen in the air, creating a vacuum that can rupture the lungs of people nearby.

International law prohibits the use of thermobaric weapons against civilians, but they are not illegal to use against military targets.

Thermobaric weapons come in various sizes, from rocket-propelled grenades designed for close combat to large versions that can be deployed from planes.

The Russian air force did not have an immediate impact, analysts believing the scale and sophistication of Ukraine’s aerial defenses prevented Russia from gaining a foothold with aerial attacks. Ukraine

The US and Estonia provided Ukraine with Javelin missiles, also known as FGM-148, designed to destroy tanks.

Javelin missiles are designed to hit a tank from above where its armor is thinnest. They have a range of up to 4.5 km (2.8 mi). They can also be effective for attacks on other vehicles, buildings or low flying aircraft.

Lithuania sent Stinger anti-aircraft missiles to Ukraine. The Stinger often is seen as a potential “game changer,” giving soldiers on the ground the ability to contest the airspace.

The Stinger’s effectiveness was seen in the mid-1980s when Afghan resistance forces used them to shoot down Soviet helicopters. Interestingly some of the first losses by the invading Russians were helicopters, shot down by Ukraine.

Ukraine also had the Bayraktar TB2 unmanned combat aerial vehicle — a Turkish-made drone that can carry small anti-armor weapons.

Ukraine’s ambassador to Ankara, Vasyl Bodnar, has said the drones had been very efficient; videos posted by Ukraine’s military showed them being used to destroy vehicles in Russian convoys.

The drone can carry small anti-vehicle weapons with laser-guided ammunition.

Sources include CIA estimates, armedforces.eu and reports from websites and other media.