Western arms supplies ‘no guarantee’ of a decisive victory for Ukraine

Ukrainian army tank is driven as soldiers check the readiness of equipment for combat deployment, at a military base in Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine, Thursday, March 16, 2023. © Kateryna Klochko, AP

Ukraine has been preparing to launch a spring counteroffensive to recapture territory seized by Russians and is hoping to repeat the success of its counterattacks last September. Despite the supply of Western arms, including battle tanks, Ukrainian forces will have to change their tactics if they hope to achieve a breakthrough, according to historian and retired army officer Michel Goya.

Ukraine has made no secret of its plans to launch a counteroffensive in the spring and reclaim land occupied by Russian forces since Moscow launched its invasion in February 2022. The Ukrainian army has already successfully carried out similar attacks last September, driving back Russian forces in Kharkiv and Kherson provinces.