Russia Seizes Advantage in Intensified Assaults on Ukraine Amid Delayed US Aid

According to Western intelligence, Russia is taking advantage of a perceived “window of opportunity” to intensify air and ground assaults on Ukraine, as it awaits the arrival of newly approved US military aid packages. This delay, which officials believe Russia will seek to capitalize on, is due to the lengthy process between the allocation of funds and the delivery of significant quantities of weapons and ammunition. Overnight, Russia launched a massive missile and drone attack on Ukraine, with Ukrainian authorities reporting more than 50 missiles and 20 drones targeting energy infrastructure. Ukrainian officials warn that Russia is causing maximum suffering to Ukrainian civilians in an effort to demoralize them and prevent new recruits from joining the fight. The months-long delay in approving the funding led to a resolution last month, spearheaded by Republican Speaker Mike Johnson, who ignored opposition from within his party to pass a major security package that combined Ukraine funding with aid for Israel and Taiwan. However, officials acknowledge that the postponement has led to significant losses and territorial setbacks for Ukrainian forces. Western and Ukrainian officials anticipate that Russia will continue to escalate its attacks ahead of a planned large-scale offensive this summer. US and Ukrainian officials also fear that Russia may launch another partial troop mobilization to bolster its ranks, given Ukraine’s shortage of manpower. Though Ukraine’s prospects appear uncertain, even with fresh US military supplies, experts predict that the best outcome is to maintain defensive positions rather than win the war. Other nations, including the US, are urged to offer additional support to Ukraine. CNN reports that Russian troops have taken advantage of Ukraine’s dwindling artillery and ammunition reserves, which has enabled them to gain ground near the eastern city of Avdiivka, their most significant advance since the war’s early stages. Senior Ukrainian military officials have expressed concerns about the potential danger to Kyiv’s supply routes and command centers in the region. In recent weeks, Russia has focused its efforts on three critical objectives in the eastern sector: the essential military hub of Pokrovsk, west of Avdiivka; the strategic heights of Chasiv Yar, near Bakhmut; and Kurakhove in the southeast.