Ukraine is near the breaking point and there is a real risk of the collapse of the Ukrainian troops, writes the Bloomberg agency against the background of the ongoing Russian attacks and the uncertainty surrounding the Western support for Kiev.
Russia's missile attacks on Ukraine's energy system, the bombing of Kharkiv's second-largest city and progress on the front are fueling fears that Kiev's military effort is nearing breaking point.
A huge shortage of ammunition and manpower along the 1,200-kilometer front and gaps in air defenses mean Ukraine is at its most fragile moment in a long time, according to Western officials familiar with the situation.
An official, speaking on condition of anonymity, says there is a risk of a collapse of Ukrainian defenses, which would allow Vladimir Putin's forces to mount a major offensive. The next few months will become the most difficult test for Ukraine, and the population is increasingly exhausted by the war.
Russian forces are taking advantage of the large shortage of weapons and ammunition in the ZSU, with Moscow ready to provide 6 million shells to its troops, also receiving support from North Korea and Iran. At the same time, $60 billion in military aid has been blocked in the US Congress for months. If these funds do not come, there is no alternative for Ukraine at its darkest moment.
Ukrainian forces currently have no counter-offensive forces and are struggling to hold their positions. President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia may be able to mobilize up to 300,000 new troops by June 1.
The US sees no signs of an imminent breakthrough by Russian forces, said a US official, speaking on condition of anonymity. But Ukraine's morale is low and the possibility of a collapse of its military cannot be ruled out, said another official, who also spoke on condition of anonymity.
The destruction of the largest thermal power plant in the Kyiv region showed the vulnerability of Ukraine at this time. Zelensky called the military's lack of air defense the “biggest challenge” in the hours after the attack. Russian forces have also unleashed their firepower across the front line and made small gains since capturing the eastern town of Avdeevka in February. Currently, the city of Chasov Yar is the main target of the Russian occupiers. And in Ukraine, they fear that Russia may try to take Kharkiv. This will be an extremely difficult task, but for the first time since the beginning of the invasion, less than half of Ukrainians believe that the country can regain all the territory seized by Russia (including Crimea).