The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, has stated that his country will defend itself at all costs from the invasion of the Russian Army, but how prepared are the Ukrainian military forces compared to the Russian ones?
According to data from the Central Intelligence Agency of the United States (CIA), Ukraine has increased military spending as a percentage of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in recent years, ranking the country 19th in the world for military spending , according to the ranking of the US agency.
By 2016, Ukraine spent 3.6% of its GDP on the military; in 2017 it was 3.1%, the same percentage as for 2018; in 2019, the percentage climbed to 3.4 and by 2020 it reached 4 percent.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces are made up of ground, naval, air, air assault, space operations, territorial defense (reserve) forces, as well as the National Guard.
In total, according to data from the INCuntil 2020, the Armed Forces of Ukraine They are made up of some 200,000 active troops, of which:
- 150,000 are from the Army, including the Airborne Air Assault Forces
- 12,000 of the Navy
- 40,000 Air Force
- Approximately 50,000 National Guard members
Of the total, between 15 and 20% are women, according to CIA data.
In equipment, the Ukrainian forces “are mainly equipped with Russian weapons systems and older Soviets.
The agency’s information indicates that Ukraine since 2010 has imported limited amounts of weapons from European countries as well as from Canada, the United States and the United Arab Emirates.
“Ukraine has an extensive defense industry capable of building Soviet-era ground systems and maintaining and upgrading Soviet-era fighter jets, as well as missile and air defense systems,” the country profile states.
The CIA reports that as of 2021, “the main concern of the Ukrainian military was Russian material support for the separatist armed forces in the eastern provinces of Donetsk and Luhansk, where the conflict stalled along a 250-mile front. known as the line of contact.
“Since the October 2019 ceasefire, sporadic exchanges of fire have continued into 2021 since 2014, the Ukrainian military has sought to implement reforms in line with NATO standards (North Atlantic Treaty Organization), improve individual and unit training, revise doctrine, improve weapons and equipment, streamline command and control, reduce reliance on recruits, and expand elite units like Air Assault and Special Operations Forces.
“The military has also received assistance and material support from NATO and the United States.”
As reserves, until 2021 it had about 14,000 recruits, while military service applies to people between 20 and 27 years old.
Until 2021 Ukraine was estimated to be inhabited by about 43 million 745,640 people.
Russian Equipment
On the other hand, according to the CIA database, Russia has reduced its military spending in recent years as a percentage of its GDP, however, remains in position number 18 in the ranking of military spending of the US agency, in addition to the fact that it currently has a large number of active elements as well as high-powered weapons.
In 2016, Russia’s military spending equaled 5.4% of its GDP; in 2017 4.2%; in 2018 3.7%; for 2019 3.8%, while for 2020 there was a slight upturn to reach 4 percent.
The CIA specifies that although the information varies, it is estimated that the Russian Armed Forces are made up of about 850,000 active elements:
- 375,000 ground troops, including some 40,000 airborne troops
- 150,000 from the Navy
- 160,000 from the aerospace forces
- 70,000 from the Strategic Rocket Forces
- 90,000 other uniformed personnel
- Approximately 20,000 special operations forces, plus command and control, cyber, support, logistics, security, etc.
- Between 200,000 and 250,000 elements of its National Guard
Of the total number of active elements, it is estimated that 5% are women.
In turn, the CIA indicates that the Russian Armed and Paramilitary Forces they are equipped with locally produced weapons, however, since 2010 the country has imported limited amounts of weapons from different countries such as France, Israel, Italy, Turkey and Ukraine itself.
“The Russian defense industry is capable of designing, developing and producing a full range of advanced air, ground, missile and naval systems; Russia is the world’s second largest exporter of military hardware.
It is estimated that Russia is inhabited by about 142 million 320,790 people.
