A senior Ukrainian officer based in the Kharkiv region characterised the current military situation as "not critical but very tense everywhere," as Russian forces pressure the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) to divert troops from Donetsk in the Donbas and are probing Ukrainian forces along the entire line, reports journalist Lucian Kim in a relatively rare reports on the action from close to the front lines on July 5.

Despite having the initiative and superior manpower, Russia is not in a position to launch a major attack, Kim reports.

The officer disclosed that Ukraine is stabilising the line of contact as new US supplied weapons slowly begin to reach the frontlines and acknowledged the AFU has now adopted an entire defensive posture. "The Russians are trying to establish a cordon sanitaire along the border. They launch assaults every day. There are many wounded on both sides," he said.

Ukraine faces three primary challenges: limited ammunition, lack of air support, and insufficient experienced personnel. The officer highlighted hopes tied to the Czech ammunition initiative, the arrival of F-16s in the autumn, and efforts by AFU commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskyi to bring more troops from the rear.

But AFU troops are struggling with ammunition shortages, particularly for counter-battery fire, as they must conserve shells for relentless Russian assaults. The officer speculated that China might be supplying ammunition to Russia via North Korea. "The Russians are using ten times as much ammunition as the Ukrainians. Ukraine can’t compete with Russia’s arms production," he stated, adding that Ukrainian weapons plants are within range of Russian missiles.

The threat of drones has led to tanks being used as artillery by both sides, positioned 7-8km from the front line. This tactic diminishes the disadvantage of using older tanks, as they function primarily as cannons. "Don’t underestimate the Russians," the officer warned. "They have learned from their defeats in 2022. They use advanced recon drones that see every move on the battlefield; they have 'very serious' electronic warfare capabilities."

Russian glide bombs, which can be dropped from planes 20-30km from their targets, are particularly deadly, destroying everything within a 30m radius. "The Ukrainians have no way to fight back—yet," the officer admitted.

Contrary to some beliefs, the officer stated that the Russians do care about their troops. "The days of the Bakhmut meatgrinder are over. The Russians will fire on Ukrainian lines for three days, advance with small assault groups, then go back to massive barrages if not successful."

Ukrainian personnel are often pinned down for 2-3 weeks, with rotations being extremely dangerous due to enemy drones. These drones also deliver food and water to troops in forward positions, while remote-controlled tracked vehicles are used to evacuate the wounded.

Drone technology is advancing rapidly, with new developments every three months. While Russian drones are assembled industrially, most Ukrainian drones are made by the troops themselves, allowing for faster adaptation to battlefield conditions.

President Biden’s decision to permit Ukraine to use US weapons to strike inside Russia on the Kharkiv front has not significantly affected the situation, according to the officer. "The Americans have attached too many exceptions on targets to make a big difference."

However, the officer praised US weapons, noting the speed and firepower of the Bradley, the protective capabilities of the M113 against mines, and the potential of the F-16 to counter glide bombs by keeping Russian planes out of range.

Mobilisation has led to what the officer described as a "war for the poor," suggesting tighter measures to ensure a more equitable mobilisation. "In a perfect world, Ukraine would have a professional army," he said.

Reflecting on last year's failed counteroffensive, the officer cited a lack of experience as the main reason for the failure. "There was the hope that Western arms would do the job. The troops were not ready but the Russian defence was. For 3-4 months we banged on a closed door," he lamented.

The officer also pointed out that foreign trainers are needed only to instruct Ukrainians on weapon systems. "Tactics have changed enormously since the start of Russia’s invasion, and the Ukrainians are the specialists now. Drones changed everything," he concluded.