CNN: Kyiv Prepares for Heavy Fighting in Spring – Why Getting Leopard 2 Matters

The war in Ukraine rages on unabated with Ukrainian forces preparing for an even more violent and difficult Spring. So far, Ukraine is receiving military aid from the West, which is equipping it with heavy machine guns and anti-aircraft weapons, in order to repel Iranian drones that have caused serious damage to the country’s power plants.

However, Commander Naiev, speaking to CNN, refers to the next phase of the war which he says will involve tanks. This means that the old T-72s that the Ukrainians have will not be able to match the modern ones that the Russian forces have. Therefore, the disposition of the modern Leopard 2 and British Challenger is considered imperative. Ukrainian officials argue that they need several hundred tanks – not only to defend their current positions – but also to defeat the enemy in the coming battles which are expected to be particularly fierce.

“Of course, we need a large number of tanks from the West. They are much better than the Soviet models and can help us move forward,” Naiev said. “We are creating new military units. And our next actions will depend on their combat readiness. Therefore, Western aid is extremely important.”

The acquisition of Leopard 2 is particularly important for Ukraine, however Germany’s refusal to proceed with their provision for the time being has caused great resentment in both Kyiv and other allies.

Mykhailo Podilak, an adviser to the Presidential Administration of Ukraine, told CNN on Friday: “We are disappointed. We understand that some countries have suspensions, but the slower this goes the more our soldiers and civilians are killed. It would be important if Germany took the lead here,” he said.

Fears of a second Russian attack within two months

Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials say they are running out of spare parts for existing tanks, even as they look to other former Soviet bloc states for supplies. Ukrainians fear a second Russian attack could begin within two months. By spring, 150,000 Russians recruited last fall will have been trained and likely integrated into combat-ready units. So the Ukrainians engage in a race against time.

Experts also believe that German tanks could really make a difference. “The Leopard 2 is a modern, well-protected main battle tank with good sensors,” Jack Watling, Senior Researcher in Land Warfare at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), told CNN.

“It was originally designed to be serviceable and therefore simpler to keep in combat than others like the Challenger 2. There is also an existing production line to have spare parts for the Leopard 2.”

Several senior Ukrainian officials report that Ukraine wants to fortify itself before Russia reinforces its lines and battalion tactical groups. The list of military equipment desired by the Ukrainians seems to be constantly expanding, but Podilak replies: “Our children are not leaving the battlefield, even if they are not provided with new weapons. They will just die more often and with greater regularity. I understand that some countries may feel tired of this war. But we are the ones who pay the real price for freedom. We are the ones whose people are dying because of Russian aggression,” he told CNN.

Russian forces are being reinforced

At the same time, Russian forces are constantly improving their positions in the Zaporizhia region, according to the Russian Defense Ministry.

“During offensive operations in the direction of Zaporizhia, units of the Eastern Military District occupied more advantageous terrain and positions,” the ministry said.

According to Reuters the Russians claim to have caused casualties and destroyed equipment in the Zaporizhia region, including Ukrainian combat vehicles, howitzers and two US-made Himars missiles

Fighting in recent weeks has centered around the town of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine, where Russia’s Wagner mercenaries and Ukrainian forces have been locked in a battle of attrition.

At the same time, Russia announced on Saturday that it conducted air defense exercises in the Moscow region to protect its infrastructure in case of “air attacks”.

“Exercises were organized in the Moscow region, with the personnel of the anti-aircraft missile brigade of the Western military district, to repel air attacks against important military, industrial and administrative infrastructure,” the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement.

According to the ministry, Russian soldiers attending these gymnasiums were trained to use “S-300 anti-aircraft missiles”.

In total, “more than 150 soldiers and more than 30 pieces of weapons, military equipment and special equipment were involved,” the same source said, without specifying when these exercises took place.

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