Austrian colonel criticizes Western aid's limitations on Ukraine

Colonel Markus Reisner of the Austrian Army, who frequently comments on events in Ukraine, provided an interview assessing the aid given by the West to the defending army. In his view, the allies are doing too little for Kyiv and, despite having advanced weaponry, are not enabling it to defeat Russia.

In an interview with Ukrinform, the Austrian military officer focused primarily on the United States. He acknowledged the capabilities of some American weapons, including HIMARS rocket artillery systems, ATACMS ballistic missiles, and F-16 fighter jets. However, he highlighted the main problem as being deliveries that were too modest and did not meet the needs of the Ukrainian army. Additionally, he criticized the restrictions on how Ukrainians can use the provided weaponry.

This is frequently echoed in the United States: to help not to destroy Russia but to stop Russia. This is evident in many instances, including the number of weapon systems delivered. Think about the HIMARS systems, which have proven highly effective. Ukraine wanted 300 launchers but has received just under 48 so far. Let's also remember the delays in delivering F-16s and the restrictions on using ATACMS. Moreover, the United States made it clear that attacks on oil refineries in Russia are not fully positively perceived because they could lead to resource shortages in global markets.

According to Ukrainian soldiers and social media postings, HIMARS rocket artillery systems have become a significant nuisance for the Russians. Standard 227 mm MLRS missiles can hit targets about 50 miles away, but with MGM-140 ATACMS ballistic missiles, the range extends to even 186 miles. They utilize inertial and satellite navigation, and the launchers are mounted on a truck platform, which makes them highly mobile.

When asked about F-16 fighter jets for Ukraine, the Austrian military officer said they would not change the war's course. However, they can help protect critical infrastructure and push enemy fighter jets deeper into Russia, thereby limiting the invaders' use of guided bombs.

Similarly, the F-16 is not some kind of Wunderwaffe (miracle weapon). The F-16 must be considered in conjunction with the air-to-air and air-to-ground weaponry supplied, and appropriate logistics must also support all this.

The answer to this issue may come from plans reported by "The Wall Street Journal." The American newspaper established that additional weaponry for the fighter jets destined for the front had been found. These include AGM-88 HARM air-to-ground missiles AIM-9X Sidewinder and AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missiles.

The last issue discussed by the Austrian military officer is the restrictions placed on Ukrainians in terms of using the weapons supplied to them. Most Western allies do not allow attacks on targets deep within Russia. This includes not only the USA but also, for example, the United Kingdom, which supplies Storm Shadow cruise missiles. Ukraine is trying to circumvent this by using drones, which have already been used to attack several Russian oil refineries and airfields.