Correspondents being briefed by Whitehall officials last week were surprised to be warned that the UK and United States now expect the fighting in Ukraine to go on to the end of the year — at least. The battle for the Donbas region is intense, with heavy casualties being suffered by both sides. It is likely that the armies will have to go for an “operational pause” within a few days. They need to recover and replenish their resources, and forces.
Ukraine is losing soldiers by the hundred each day — President Zelensky has admitted this. Roughly a third of all Ukrainians have been uprooted, made refugees, killed or wounded since February. The command and government is now putting together a citizen army of 700,000 volunteers. It is a race against time to get them trained and equipped — but all know the nation’s survival depends on it.
