With the war in Ukraine about to enter its ninth month, there seems to be no end in sight. Fresh shipments of weapons head to Ukraine from its western allies as Russia calls up 300,000 men from its army reserves to join the fight.
Russian hopes for a quick victory and western hopes that sanctions would cripple Russia’s ability to fund its war effort were both met with disappointment. The population of Ukraine has thrown itself fully into the defense of its country.
Over eight months of fighting the Armed Forces of Ukraine has swelled from 190,000 troops at the start of the war to an estimated 700,000 troops today. With a steady flow of western supplied weapons, Ukraine seems set for many more months of fighting.
Western sanctions, which the World Bank first predicted would cause an 11.2% recession in Russia’s economy, are now estimated to only result in a 3.4% contraction in Russia’s 2022 GDP. Steady cash flow from oil exports, which has seen a price spike, continues to fund Russia’s war effort.
In response to Ukraine’s increasing military strength, Putin has decided to double down on his war effort. Russia has called up 300,000 men to join the over 400,000 Russian and allied forces on the frontline. Standoff munitions, including suicide drones and long-range ballistic missiles, are being procured in large numbers from Iran. Russia is preparing for a long fight.
Even after nearly nine months of fighting, with each side estimated to have killed or wounded over 100,000 of their enemy, the war in Ukraine may still be just starting.
(Feature image: Internet)
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