February 20, 2023, marked the one year anniversary of the Ukraine War, a conflict that was originally predicted by experts to last only a few days. The reasons this conflict has lasted so long are twofold.
Firstly, the strategic failings of the Russian military cannot be understated. At the beginning of the war the Russian military outnumbered and outgunned the Ukrainians in every conceivable aspect of warfare. However, these strengths became weaknesses in some key pivotal moments at the start of the war. When the Russian military was attempting to capture Kyiv, they sent a large convey of 10,000 and 2,400 vehicles all down one main road. Due to this fact a 35-mile month long traffic jam occurred, all the while Ukrainian resistance used anti-tank weapons to destroy many of the 2,400 vehicles stuck on this road.
Secondly, the resilience of the Ukrainian people and the sophistication of their military has greatly extended the war. Coupled with an increasing arsenal of NATO weaponry the Ukrainian military has not only held their own against the Russian onslaught but have also given themselves a real chance of winning this war.
The newest addition to this arsenal is the German made Leopold 2 tank. However, currently Ukraine has only received dozens of these tanks when they would need hundreds to make a noticeable difference to the war.
Current projections predict that the war will end this year, already companies from across Europe and the United States are meeting to discuss the rebuilding of Ukrainian cities, using new sustainable designs and methods at the Rebuild Ukraine exhibition in Warsaw in Poland. Roco is a demolition and recycling company based in Crossmaglen, County Armagh and the company was the sole representative from the island of Ireland at the Rebuild Ukraine exhibition.
Molly Cantwell