Russia-Ukraine Crisis: Military Capabilities Of Russia and Ukraine
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on February 24 a military operation in Ukraine to defend separatists in the east of the country. Putin also vowed retaliation against those who interfere with the Russian-Ukraine operation.
The announcement came after leaders of two Ukrainian separatist groups appealed to Moscow for help to stop alleged Ukrainian aggression. He also called on the Ukraine military to lay down its arms. Explosions were heard in Kharkiv, a major Ukrainian city just south of the Russian border, after Putin's announcement.
As Russia starts military operation in Ukraine, here are estimations of the military capabilities of Russia and Ukraine.
Russia vs Ukraine
Russia and Ukraine are the two of the largest countries in Euroasia. The neighbours were part of the 15 Soviet republics that made up the USSR. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Ukraine became an independent country and distanced itself from Russia.
After Ukraine¡¯s 2014 Revolution of Dignity, which saw months-long protests ultimately topple pro-Moscow Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych, Putin used the power vacuum to annex Crimea and back separatists in the southeastern provinces of Donetsk and Luhansk. The ongoing fighting there has killed more than 14,000 people, according to Kyiv, and displaced millions.
Military capabilities of Russia and Ukraine
The Russian Armed Forces are one of the world's largest military forces, with around a million active-duty personnel, which is the world's fifth-largest, and at least 2 million reserve personnel. Russia ranks in the top five nations which spend most of their GDP on their military.
According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), Russia spent $61.7bn on its military which accounted for 11.4 percent of government spending. In comparison, Ukraine spent $5.9bn on its military which accounted for 8.8 percent of government spending.
In a head-to-head comparison of the military capabilities of Ukraine and Russia, Russia outnumbers Ukraine in almost every aspect.?
According to Global Fire Power, Russia is the second most powerful country militarily, while Ukraine is ranked 22 out of 140 nations.
Head to head military strengths of Russia and Ukraine
In terms of active personnel, Russia has nearly 850,000 active personnel and Ukraine have only 250,000. Russia's airpower is also more powerful than Ukraine. Russia has more than 4,100 aircraft, with 772 fighters, while Ukraine only has 318 total aircraft, with just 69 fighter aircraft.
In terms of land military power, Russia has around 12,500 tanks and Ukraine only has around 2,600 tanks and 12,000 armoured vehicles. While Russia has more than 30,000 armoured vehicles. In terms of fighter aircraft, Russia has 772 fighter jets, while Ukraine has just 69.
Russia has more military firepower than Ukraine - covering the land, air and sea.
Some analysts think a Russian attack would rely upon long-range weaponry such as cruise missiles to target key Ukrainian sites from distance.
In recent weeks, NATO countries have been supplying Ukraine with additional "lethal aid", such as the UK's provision of 2,000 anti-tank weapons.
Yet while these shipments are designed to make any Russian invasion costlier to them, few experts believe these weapons would change the immediate outcome of a Russian attack.
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