Russia’s military expenditure is nearly 10 times higher than Ukraine’s
Even though Russia had previously rejected the United States’ allegations that it intends to invade Ukraine as propaganda, it has now wanted other nations to have consequences for interfering in this matter.
Ukraine was one a part of the Soviet Republic and continues to have deep social as well as cultural ties with Russia. The tension between the two regions, however, have been going on ever since Russia invaded the country in 2014 and seized big swathes of the east. That war in the east has reportedly claimed more than 14,000 lives.
In recent times, here’s how Russian military forces compare with the Ukrainian ones.
Russia’s military expenditure is nearly 10 times higher than Ukraine’s
The data by Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), an independent resource on global securities, highlights that Russia spent nearly $61.7 billion on military-related expenditures in 2020. This is nearly ten times more than military expenditure made by Ukraine in 2020.
Over the last five years, Russia has spent more than $60 billion on building its military capacity on an annual basis. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s expenditure has nearly doubled from $2.9 billion in 2016 to $5.9 billion in 2020.
Russia has nearly a million troops in its armed forces
Russia is said to have nearly 900,000 active military troops in total — almost five times higher than Ukraine’s — a report by International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS) has revealed. The Russian army has about 280,000 personnels alone, whereas Ukraine has 196,600.
Russia has 2,800 tanks, Ukraine as about 850
The Russian Army has around 2,800 tanks, including the T90s and the upgraded T-72s. Meanwhile, Ukraine has massed around 858 such tanks over the years.
According to a Forbes report, Ukraine accidently ended up with a more complex and conceptually advanced advanced tank type. Whereas Russia, despite more wealth and capital — settled on the “less sophisticated but more practical” tank.
Russia has over 4,500 artillery in its inventory
Artillery is a class of heavy military ranged weapon built to launch munitions far beyond the range and power of infantry firearms. As per an Insider report, Ukraine and Russia mostly field the same Soviet-era systems, though Russia’s artillery have received a greater degree of modernisation.
Russia has 1,160 aircraft, Ukraine has 125
Several military analysts have noted that Ukraine’s anti aircraft and anti-missile defenses are weak, which leaves the country highly vulnerable to Russian strikes on critical infrastructure.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Thursday announced that Russia had carried out missile strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure as well as the country’s border guards, and the explosions could be heard in many cities. Air raid sirens went off in Ukraine’s capital Kyiv early Thursday morning, indicating that the city is under attack.
The United States has provided more than $2.5 billion in military aid since 2014, including Javelin anti-tank missiles, coastal patrol boats, reconnaissance drones and more. Further supplies could include Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, small arms and boats.
Russia has 14 more frigates than Ukraine
A frigate is a type of warship. Russia has 15 frigates, including Admiral Essen and Admiral Gorshkov. Ukraine, on the other hand, has one.
READ MORE ARTICLES ON
Popular Right Now
Advertisement