Several British defense officials have voiced concerns regarding the Ukrainian military’s management of advanced weapon systems provided by Western allies. An official involved in training Ukrainian troops recently highlighted that Ukrainian forces frequently combine modern weaponry with outdated, Soviet-style tactics that emphasize mass firepower at a low cost.
One notable example includes the use of the British-supplied Next Generation Light Anti-tank Weapon (NLAW), which is reportedly being utilized by some Ukrainian brigades as if it were a standard rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) launcher. Reports indicate that these brigades are firing multiple one-time-use NLAWs, sometimes five to six at a time, targeting Russian positions without adequate regard for accuracy.
The defense officials argue that Ukraine has not completely integrated NATO’s contemporary battlefield tactics, which prioritize effective coordination and precision in strikes. This lack of adaptation to these modern strategies raises concerns about the efficiency of military operations.
Additionally, another significant issue is the tendency of the Ukrainian military to abandon Western-supplied munitions, including the $100,000 Javelin missiles, during retreats. This practice stands in stark contrast to NATO’s “leave nothing behind” policy, particularly in light of the advanced and costly nature of these systems. Such abandonment reportedly enables these weapons to fall into the hands of Russian forces, allowing them to use the sophisticated technology either as “war trophies” or for reverse engineering purposes.
One source noted with concern that the Russian Army may now possess a greater number of Javelins than the British Army, raising alarms about the implications of these practices on the overall conflict and security dynamics in the region.
