Ukrainians defy Russia’s onslaught for third day
Here’s how the two country’s military capabilities stack up:
Defense spending: Ukraine spent $4.7 billion in 2021, just over a tenth of nuclear-armed Russia’s $45.8 billion, according to a recent “The Military Balance” report by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS).
Manpower: Russia has 900,000 active personnel in its armed forces, and 2 million in reserve. Ukraine has 196,000 and 900,000 reservists. In land forces, Russia has a twofold advantage, with 280,000 troops to Ukraine’s 125,600. And its air force is nearly five times as strong, with 165,00 to Ukraine’s 35,000. Russia had an estimated 200,000 personnel in and around Ukraine.
Weaponry and vehicles: Russia has more than 15,857 armored fighting vehicles, for example, to Ukraine’s 3,309. It has more than 10 times the aircraft — 1,391 to Ukraine’s 128, and 821 helicopters to Ukraine’s 55, if you include Navy aircraft. Where Russia has 49 submarines, Ukraine has none, according to IISS.
Combat will: Ukrainian forces have, however, launched some successful counterattacks. Experts have noted that the sheer combat will among Ukrainian troops to defend their homes and families against Russian acts of violence has been the armed forces’ greatest strength.
Read more here:
- Explosions seen and heard in Kyiv as Ukrainians battle to hold back advancing Russian troops
- Ukraine President says 137 soldiers have been killed since Russian invasion began
- Ukraine President makes dramatic appeal to Russian citizens
- Biden calls Russia’s actions beginning of an invasion
- Putin orders troops into pro-Russian regions of eastern Ukraine
- Satellite imagery shows Russian ground forces dispersing to positions close to Ukraine border
