Captured Russian Arms from Kyiv's 2022 Defense Still Bolster Ukraine's Forces

The Full-Scale Russian Invasion of Ukraine

According to Главком: Andriy Biletsky, commander of Ukraine's Third Army Corps, has reflected on the events of Russia's full-scale invasion, which began four years ago. In a blog for Ukrainska Pravda, he recalled Russia's failed three-day objective to seize Kyiv. Biletsky emphasized that throughout these years, Russia has not managed to fully occupy a single Ukrainian oblast, and the battles for the Kyiv region in March 2022 became a defining symbol of Ukrainian resistance. The initial defense of the capital was a critical strategic and moral failure for the invading forces.

Repurposed Equipment and Territorial Integrity

The commander also highlighted how captured Russian equipment continues to serve Ukraine. Specifically, he noted that 13 seized Russian tanks remain in active service with the Third Assault Brigade. Furthermore, a Russian TOR-M air defense system, captured in the Kyiv region, still protects a Ukrainian city. Biletsky pointed out that during the fighting, Ukrainian troops forced Russian forces to abandon the battlefield, leaving behind both equipment and their dead.

In his blog, Biletsky raised a crucial point regarding Ukraine's territorial integrity. He stressed that if Ukraine were to cede territories in the Donbas, there would be no guarantee it wouldn't be pressured to surrender other cities like Kharkiv, Odesa, Zaporizhzhia, or Kherson in the event of renewed war. The commander of the Third Army Corps underscored that the Russians failed to take Kyiv in three days, have failed to break Ukraine in four years, and will not succeed in forcing Ukraine into a deceptive surrender.

“Andriy Biletsky's statements underscore the significance of Ukrainian resistance and its impact on the war's outcomes.”

Andriy Biletsky

By highlighting successes in defending territory and repurposing captured hardware, he argues for the necessity of supporting Ukraine's independence. Simultaneously, his warning about the potential consequences of territorial concessions illustrates the gravity of the situation and the critical importance of unity in defending national interests.