From pistols to cruise missiles: How Western weaponry supplied to Ukraine has evolved during the war

The Russia-Ukraine war has been continuing for 15 months now and there seems to be no end to it. On Monday, Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy met British prime minister Rishi Sunak at Chequers, the countryside retreat, where the two discussed the ongoing battle as well as Britain’s support to Kyiv. The West has been supporting Kyiv in defending its territory by providing arms and ammunition. Here’s a look back at how the weaponry supplied evolved over the course of the war. Phase 1: Defensive weapons No sooner had Russian president Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine on 24 February, 2022, than the West started arms deliveries to Ukraine. Between February and March, Kyiv received more than 40,000 small arms and light weapons (pistols, rifles, submachine guns), 17,000 shoulder-launched anti-aircraft missiles (Manpads), as well as 25,000 helmets and 30,000 bulletproof vests, according to Germany’s Kiel Institute, which tracks weapons promised and delivered to Ukraine. Phase 2: Artillery battles After being driven back from the outskirts of Kyiv and the second-largest city of Kharkiv, the Russian army scaled back its offensive to focus on the east and south. With a major battle looming for the eastern Donbas region, the West began delivering artillery pieces that allowed Ukraine to hit behind enemy lines, destroying ammunition stocks and disrupting Russian supply lines. [caption id=“attachment_12601142” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] The United States in June agreed to send long-range HIMARS, which Ukraine used to go on the offensive, driving the Russians out of the occupied city of Kherson. AFP[/caption] The United States in June agreed to send long-range HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System), which Ukraine used to go on the offensive, driving the Russians out of the occupied city of Kherson. By the autumn, 321 howitzers had been delivered, 49 multiple rocket launchers, 24 attack helicopters, more than 1,000 US drones and 280 Soviet-built tanks, sent mainly by Ukraine’s neighbour Poland. Phase 3: Missile defence Throughout the autumn of 2022 Russia repeatedly pounded cities across Ukraine with missiles and, later, suicide drones in a bid to wipe out Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and destroy morale. Kyiv asked for missile defence systems to counter the threat. In December, Washington agreed to deliver its Patriot missiles, considered one of the best air-defence systems in the world. Phase 4: Tanks During the winter, the eastern front became mired in brutal trench warfare, with Ukraine fighting tooth and nail to hold onto the Donbas town of Bakhmut. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's appeals to the West to send state-of-the-art tanks so that Kyiv, which only had Soviet-era vehicles, could again go on the offensive again were finally heard in January 2023. [caption id=“attachment_12601152” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] Ukrainian T64 tanks move towards Bakhmut direction, in Donetsk Oblast region. File image/AFP[/caption] After much soul-searching, Germany agreed to send some of its powerful Leopard tanks and allow countries to also send units from their stocks. Britain sent some of its Challengers and the United States also pledged 31 of its Abrams tanks by the autumn. By late April 2023, NATO allies and partners had provided 1,550 armoured vehicles and 230 tanks, according to the alliance’s chief Jens Stoltenberg. “This will put Ukraine in a strong position to continue to retake occupied territory,” he said. Washington’s decision to send rocket-propelled precision bombs that nearly double Kyiv’s strike range against the Russians also gave Kyiv another major boost. The ground-launched small-diameter bombs (GLSDB) have a range of up to 150 kilometres (93 miles), nearly twice that of HIMARS. Britain went further in early May, announcing it would send long-range Storm Shadow cruise missiles, which have a range of 250 kilometres, despite concerns that they could be used to strike inside Russia. Next: Fighter jets? On a tour of European capitals starting last week, Zelenskyy secured further promises of military aid ahead of Ukraine’s highly anticipated counter-offensive against Russia. Britain pledged hundreds of air-defence missiles and long-range attack drones, France promised dozens more light tanks and armoured vehicles, and Berlin announced a new military package worth €2.7 billion ($3 billion or Rs 24,683 crore). NATO members have however so far drawn the line at sending Kyiv modern fighter jets, despite Zelenskyy’s repeated appeals for war planes such as the US-designed F-16. With inputs from AFP Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.