Ukraine: Drastic Military Imbalance Between Countries Revealed

Russia has a larger military than Ukraine, but the full extent of that advantage has now been revealed.

President Vladimir Putin essentially declared war on Ukraine this morning, February 24, with troops invading and carrying out a 'special military operation', amounting to more than 200 attacks across the country and the deaths of troops and civilians.

Ukraine claims to have killed 50 Russians, as well as downing at least six Russian aircraft. Russia's impact has been far more sizeable, with claims it's destroyed 74 military facilities, including 11 air bases.

To illustrate the difference between the two countries, GlobalFirepower put together an infographic showing the size of Ukraine and Russia's military forces, broken down into categories. In its assessment, it estimates Russia to have 850,000 ground force troops, while Ukraine has 200,000. In terms of each nation's total aircraft, Russia has 4,173, while Ukraine has 318.

In terms of naval forces, Russia has 605 in its naval fleet, while Ukraine has just 38. When it comes to tanks, which have been filmed crossing over the border and driving through Ukraine's streets, Russia boasts a force of more than 12,000, while Ukraine has nearly 2,600 tanks.

Oleksii Goncharenko, a Ukrainian MP, told Sky News, 'You can imagine how people feel when they feel that tanks are moving into their cities, that Russia is using aircraft to bomb civilians, aircraft are in the skies, so that is the mood. Many people are trying to move to the west of the country, they are very much scared. Many people are receiving weapons to fight for their homes, for their houses, for their cities and towns. That's the situation right now.'

With regards to fighter aircraft, Russia is said to have 772 in its arsenal, while Ukraine has 69. Ukraine has just one frigate, a type of large warship, while Russia has 11. Ukraine doesn't have a single destroyer, but Russia has 15.

In terms of armoured vehicles, the difference isn't quite as stark, though still sizeable: Russia has more than 30,000, while Ukraine has 12,303. Russia also has 544 attack helicopters, at least one of which has been downed today, while Ukraine has just 34.

The only advantage Ukraine could have over Russia is the assistance of NATO; while not a NATO member state – a key issue in Putin's invasion – its long-held ambitions to join the alliance and worldwide support could combat Russia's overwhelming military.

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