While Ukraine certainly has gained important combat experience over the last year, it has only slowly improved its ability to conduct combined arms operations. Combined arms combat operations are difficult, even for well-trained and well-equipped modern forces, and combined arms breaching of Russia’s defensive lines will likely prove similarly difficult, particularly at the battalion-, brigade-, or higher-level scale required.

Ukrainian units have and continue to receive training in Europe on combined arms operations, as the combined effects of Ukrainian infantry, armor, artillery, engineers, and other combat arms will likely be necessary to dislodge Russian forces from the country, particularly given Russia’s long-term and ongoing improvements to its defensive positions. Russia’s invasion of and ongoing war in Ukraine using mechanized and armored formations necessitated a range of Ukrainian responses, including resistance, defensive, and, increasingly, offensive operations.

Either outcome will likely depend on a range of factors, including details about what variants of what platforms the West provides the level and quality of the training and logistics packages (hopefully) accompanying equipment delivery the ability of Ukraine to actually generate combat power based on the provided equipment, training, and logistics and the types of operations in which Ukraine employs said combat power. If the West can deliver on its promises to equip and train Ukraine with these mechanized and armored ground combat vehicles in a timely manner, perhaps even before this spring, it could be a “ game changer” - but not necessarily. The United States and some North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies have now pledged to deliver advanced infantry fighting vehicles and main battle tanks, and they are apparently considering advanced fighter jets, as well. The flurry of announced plans to increase Western military aid to Ukraine continues.

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