The chief of the general staff of Ukraine’s armed forces, General Valery Zaluzny, says the clashes with the Russian invaders are turning into a “war of attrition” which, he warned, could favor Moscow and allow it to rebuild its military power.

In his article in the Economist, General Zaluzny emphasizes that the Ukrainian armed forces need reinforcement with advanced systems in order to cope with this new phase of the war which continues for the 21st month.

“Essential equipment, such as rockets and shells, remains necessary. But Ukraine’s armed forces need advanced military capabilities and technologies to escape such a war. The most important is the air force,” he states.

Five months into the start of the Ukrainian counter-offensive, successes against well-fortified Russian forces are limited and the arrival of winter is expected to slow Kiev’s campaign to liberate occupied territories. At the same time, Kiev fears that Moscow will launch a new barrage of airstrikes targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.