Jonathan Poquette told Business Insider that ammunition shortages have forced Ukrainian troops to be much more selective about which targets to strike, sometimes not even striking groups of advancing Russians that they would have struck earlier in the Russian invasion.
As he watches Ukraine’s allies debate what aid to give the country, he has a clear request.
“We see in the West that oh yes, they give these vehicles, vehicles, vehicles. But, chebra, fuck me on vehicles. Give me ammo. Give me bullets. Give grenade launchers. Give me things that will allow individual soldiers to fight and kill Russians,” Mr. Poquette told the publication.
Ukrainian soldiers
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Ukrainian soldiers (photo by SCANPIX)
Ukrainian soldiers (photo by SCANPIX)
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Ukrainian soldiers (photo by SCANPIX)
Ukrainian soldier and V. Zelenskiy (photo by SCANPIX)
Ukrainian soldiers (photo by SCANPIX)
Ukrainian soldier and V. Zelenskiy (photo by SCANPIX)
Ukrainian soldiers (photo by SCANPIX)
Ukrainian soldiers (photo by SCANPIX)
Ukrainian soldiers (photo by SCANPIX)
Ukrainian soldiers (photo by SCANPIX)
Ukrainian soldiers (photo by SCANPIX)
Ukrainian soldiers (photo by SCANPIX)
Ukrainian soldiers (photo by SCANPIX)
Ukrainian soldiers (photo by SCANPIX)
Ukrainian soldiers (photo by SCANPIX)
Ukrainian soldiers (photo by SCANPIX)
Ukrainian soldiers (photo by SCANPIX)
Ukrainian soldiers (photo by SCANPIX)
Ukrainian soldiers (photo by SCANPIX)
Ukrainian soldiers (photo by SCANPIX)
Ukrainian soldiers (photo by SCANPIX)
Ukrainian soldiers (photo by SCANPIX)
Ukrainian soldiers (photo by SCANPIX)
Suffered an injury
Mr. Poquette is a sniper in the 59th Motorized Brigade of the International Forces of the Ukrainian Army, which is officially designated as a reconnaissance unit, but is often used more for frontal offensive and defensive tasks. He has been recovering from an injury in Kyiv since the end of January.
He said that because of long-term shortages of weapons and equipment, weapons that could keep troops alive and prevent Russia from taking territory were more urgently needed than anything that could help with long-term planning or long-range attacks.
Sniper said that while expensive vehicles like tanks “are important, I think it overshadows the whole picture.” At the moment, the most important thing is “ammunition, grenades, mines, missiles, various missile systems”, he added.
“What can one tank do? he asked rhetorically. “Not as much as 50,000 artillery shells, 5,000 mortar shells.”
Tags: Sniper Wounded Frontline Ukraine Sends Strong Message Spit Tanks Send Bullets
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