War in Ukraine: How the US and Europe Arm Ukrainian Troops

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The Russian incursion into Ukrainian territory comes closer and closer to the West.

On Sunday, the 18th day of the conflict, rockets hit a military base on the outskirts of Lviv, 25 kilometers from Poland – a member country of the European Union and NATO, the western military alliance -, killing at least 35 people.

The location of the attack brings Moscow closer to a dangerous line, reigniting fears of an escalation of the conflict with the direct involvement of other powers, and putting the lives of more civilians at risk.

  • According to article 5 of the NATO treaty, the organization is obliged to defend any member state that is attacked – in the case of Poland;
  • Being on the border, Lviv is one of the main escape routes for Ukrainians to Poland, the country that receives the most refugees.

The attack came a day after Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov warned that convoys carrying weapons sent from the United States and Europe to help Ukrainian troops would be a target.

The military base that was destroyed was possibly one of the destinations of this foreign arsenal.

The context: While Russia works with its own resources, Ukraine depends on Western aid, which translates into weapons shipments, humanitarian support and financial resources:

  • United States: The Joe Biden government has so far authorized the transfer of US$ 1.2 billion (about R$ 6 billion) to Ukraine, which includes military equipment. Congress also approved a US$13.6 billion emergency package for military and humanitarian aid;
  • European Union: The 27-nation bloc approved the use of 500 million euros (R$ 2.7 billion) for the purchase and delivery of lethal material and medical equipment to Ukraine. There are plans to double this amount;
  • United Kingdom: Prime Minister Boris Johnson has pledged to send a further £175m (£1.2bn), with £100m to be provided directly to the Ukrainian government. In all, British support amounts to £400 million.

The British government will also pay £350 a month to anyone who wants to house Ukrainian refugees in the country.

Opinion: Columnist Hélio Schwartsman analyzes the thesis that efforts to discipline and regulate wars made conflicts more enduring.

picture of the day

Do not get lost

In the last week, the sheet presented the Sukhoi Su-57 fighter jet, the most sophisticated in Russia and which, according to images, made its debut in the Ukrainian war.

With the help of special reporter Igor Gielow, who follows the conflict step by step and has detailed the weapons of each side here, we explain who the troops are and what war equipment has been seen in combat so far.

RUSSIA

  • Who fights: The Kremlin mobilized about 200,000 troops before the invasion began on February 24, and says the vast majority of its troops are professionals. On Friday, the Putin administration authorized the recruitment of some 16,000 volunteers from the Middle East, especially Syria;
  • Main feature: The Russians invest in armored strength, such as modernized versions of the T-72 and T-80 tanks and equipment from the BMP family. More than 800 missiles were launched against Ukrainian targets, and there is use of rocket barrage and artillery.

And the fighters? Despite the air capacity far superior to that of the neighbor, Russia has avoided the intensive use of attack planes for fear of shooting down and capturing pilots.

UKRAINE

  • Who fights: In addition to training civilians and preventing men between the ages of 18 and 60 from leaving the country, Volodymyr Zelensky’s government appeals to foreign volunteers. Banned until 2016, women make up 15% of the Ukrainian army — an official proportion greater than that of the Russians;
  • main resource: With less advanced armored vehicles, the Ukrainians have in their favor foreign defense equipment, such as the Javelin (US) and NLAW (Swedish-British) anti-tank missile launchers and the Stinger (US) portable anti-aircraft missile. At least 20,000 missiles, anti-tank and anti-aircraft models, among others, have already been sent to Kiev.

What to see and hear to stay informed

Understand how Russia and Ukraine mobilized for the conflict, in an episode of the Café da Manhã podcast, and how the advance of Russian troops has been, in a video by TV Folha.

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