While Others Debate No-Fly Zones, Take These Steps Now to Help Ukraine

Ukrainian forces are fighting hard to defend against the Russian invasion, but are slowly losing ground and cities in the face of a brutal Russian onslaught. As the debates in Washington over no-fly zones and Polish MiG-29s continue, there are a number of actions that Washington and its allies can take to immediately help Ukrainian forces.

Ukrainian forces have exceeded the expectations of many regarding their will and capability to fight, dashing Russian hopes for a quick victory. The bravery of Ukrainians and the provision of weapons from the United States and others have proven a powerful combination. However, Russian forces are slowly advancing, taking territory, inflicting losses on Ukrainian forces, and employing increasingly brutal siege tactics.

In addition to continuing to rush man-portable anti-tank, anti-aircraft, and other weapons to Ukraine, the West should take five specific steps immediately:

• Share Targeting Intelligence — The U.S. government is still not sharing all the intelligence it can with the Ukrainian military to target invading Russian forces. Washington has the means to do so but the Biden administration is slow-walking the policy decision. Each day this intelligence is withheld from Kyiv helps Russian forces and hurts Ukrainians defending their homes. We are already sending lethal weapons to Ukraine. We should also give Kyiv the information it needs to best employ those weapons against invading Russian forces.
• Diversify Supply Lines — NATO and like-minded partners have conducted an impressive, if belated, effort to supply Ukraine with lethal and non-lethal aid. However, a large proportion of those supplies are being flown into a single airbase in Poland and then moving over land into Ukraine. Those supply lines into Ukraine from Poland are increasingly vulnerable to Russian attacks. The Kremlin has recently conducted strikes in Western Ukraine, and we should expect strikes on weapons convoys coming from Poland next. NATO members should open additional supply lines, including from Romania and Slovakia. Washington and NATO allies should transfer to Ukraine additional capabilities to defend those weapons convoys once they cross into Ukraine.
• Provide Secure Tactical Communications — Ukrainian forces continue to conduct much of their command and control and operational communications via unsecure channels. This allows Russia to listen in and endangers Ukrainian forces. Admittedly, this problem also afflicts some Russian forces. For that reason, giving Kyiv at least a modest means to conduct encrypted communications could provide Ukraine an important advantage. Secure communications are the backbone of coordinated and effective military action, including in the intense urban warfare that may become more prevalent in the coming days.
• Prepare for Chemical Attacks — Russia has been setting the stage to potentially conduct a chemical attack in Ukraine. Moscow has a long and deplorable record of employing chemical weapons abroad. Washington should sprint to help Kyiv prepare for a chemical attack. This should include planning assistance and the provision to Ukrainian forces of the protective equipment they would need to survive and operate after a chemical attack.
• Help Ukraine Counter Russian Jamming — There has been a recent uptick in jamming attacks from the Russians against Ukrainian forces, with some of these attacks possibly coming from Belarus. These attacks are likely intended to interfere with the ability of the Ukrainian military to fly unmanned aerial systems, including the TB-2 drones that have been so effective. The United States can help Ukraine counter jamming efforts and should do so without delay.

While pundits in Washington debate no-fly zones, taking these five steps can help Ukraine better defend itself and raise the costs for Putin’s aggression.

Bradley Bowman is senior director of the Center on Military and Political Power (CMPP) at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), where Ryan Brobst is a research analyst. For more analysis from the authors and CMPP, please subscribe HERE. Follow Bradley on Twitter @Brad_L_Bowman. Follow FDD on Twitter at @FDD and @FDD_CMPP. FDD is a Washington, DC-based, nonpartisan research institute focusing on national security and foreign policy.