(Reuters) – Ukraine’s armed forces have been heavily outnumbered by Russia’s. However, as Russia prepares for a major invasion, experts believe they will be able to mount significant resistance and inflict heavy casualties.

The Ukrainian army has also been better equipped and trained than it was in 2014. In 2014 Russia took the Crimea peninsula without fighting. It is generally believed that the Army is highly motivated to protect the nation’s heartland.

These are details about Ukraine’s military.

WHAT LOOK THE NUMBERS LIKE?

Ukraine is lacking in both manpower and weaponry.

Military experts believe that there are more than 100,000 Russian soldiers near Russia’s Ukraine border. Russia sent troops north of Ukraine to conduct military drills.

Russia’s military has around 280,000 troops and its combined armed forces are approximately 900,000. According to IISS, its 2,840 battle tank outnumbers Ukraine’s more than three times to one.

The prime minister of Ukraine stated that a Zelenskiy-signed decree on priority measures to improve the state’s defense capabilities, make it more appealing to military service and transition to a professional arm force would ultimately bring Ukraine’s army to 361,000.

Although Ukraine doubled its defense budget between 2010-2020, it spent $4.3 billion on its defense in 2020. This is less than Russia’s total.

According to military analysts, Ukraine’s antiaircraft and missile defenses are very weak. This makes it vulnerable to Russian attacks on its vital infrastructure. According to them, Russia will also use its electronic warfare superiority to paralyse the enemy’s command and control system and disrupt communications to its field units.

HOW EXPERIENCED IS UKRAINE’S FORCES

Ukraine’s troops have extensive combat experience in Donbass in eastern Ukraine, where they are fighting Russia-backed separatists for the past four years. They are extremely motivated.

The U.S. has supplied Javelin missiles to the U.S., and they have air defenses that are short-range.

Ukraine also has around 900,000. reservists and volunteer territorial defense units. Russia might face persistent resistance if trying to take over territory.

This military challenge will be unimaginably greater than any of the previous wars Russia has fought after the collapse of the Soviet Union, which included in Chechnya (breakaway Chechnya) in the 1990s as well as against Georgia (2008).

WHAT IS THE WEST DOING TO HELP UKRAINE’S MILITARY?

While Western nations have increased their arms supplies to Ukraine, Kyiv insists that it still needs more. To fight in Ukraine, the United States is excluding sending troops from its territory.

Since 2014, the United States has donated more than $2.5 Billion in military assistance. This includes Javelin antitank missiles and coastal patrol boats. Humvees. Sniper rifles. Reconnaissance drones. Radar systems. Night vision. Radio equipment. Stinger anti-aircraft rockets and small arms, as well as boats, could be added to the list.

Turkey sold Kyiv several Bayraktar TB2 drones that it used against Russian-backed separatists.

Britain provided Ukraine in January with an estimated 2,000 anti-tank short-range missiles and trained British experts. They also sent Saxon armoured trucks.

Estonia stated that it is sending Javelin antiarmour missiles, and Latvia and Lithuania provide Stinger missiles. Czech Republic stated that it will donate 152mm artillery ammunition.

Germany has not yet agreed to arms delivery to Ukraine. However, it is financing a field hospital in the country and training staff.

COULD RUSSIA STAGE A FULL-SCALE INVASION?

This would result in a messy and long-lasting war, with inevitable heavy casualties. Many military analysts think this unlikely. Russia is likely to choose crushing air attacks and/or restricted land grabs over all-out war, including major city battles.

Russia could push to the south and west of the Donbass area in east Ukraine. This region is already under control by pro-Russian forces. It would then link up with the annexed Crimea or the Black Sea. It is possible that soldiers from Belarus might cross Ukraine’s northern frontier as part of an attack.

Putin will likely face objections from his public regarding the possibility of waging war against another Slav nation. This would also be due to intense anti-Russian sentiments within Ukraine. Russia has already been sanctioned over moving troops into separatist-controlled regions of Ukraine, and will most likely face much harsher ones for a full invasion.