The conflict in Ukraine may be seen as a regional war by some, but it is much more than that. Since the start of the war in 2022, an alliance of free countries has provided Ukraine with intelligence, weapons, and financial support to defend against Russian aggression in Donbas. This aid was crucial when Russian regiments crossed the border and invaded Ukrainian territory.
Russia quickly mobilized its allies, including Iran and North Korea, to help them maintain a high rate of fire during the early stages of the conflict. Iran provided Russia with Shahed drones, a low-cost deep-strike munition that was used to carry out airstrikes on cities and villages across Ukraine, causing significant damage and loss of life. North Korea helped Russia address a shortage of artillery shells, allowing Russian batteries to maintain a high rate of fire during the early stages of the conflict.
Despite these developments, by mid-2023, Ukrainian forces had actually gained a firepower advantage over Russian forces. This was largely due to the fact that Western countries provided more artillery ammunition to Ukraine than Russia received from its allies. The war in Ukraine is not simply a small conflict between two countries; it is a complex and multi-faceted conflict with global implications.
