Ukraine reliant on arms from allies, Soviet-era weaponry exhausted

A young Ukrainian soldier holds a recently received next generation light anti-tank weapon (NLAW), at a position on the front line near Bakhmut, in the Donbas region of Ukraine, on June 5. (Photo: Gleb Garanich/Reuters)

WASHINGTON: Ukraine has depleted its Soviet and Russian-designed weaponry and is now completely dependent on allies for arms to defend against Russia's invasion, US military sources say.

Once part of the Soviet Union, Ukraine's army and its defense industry were built around Soviet and Russian-standard equipment, small arms, tanks, howitzers and other weapons not interchangeable with those of neighbours to the west.