In this essay for The Atlantic, Elliot Ackerman argues that Ukraine’s fate will depend not only on combat power, but on the logistics required to sustain it.
Drawing on his own experience as a Marine officer in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Fallujah, Ackerman explains why ammunition, water, fuel, food, and uninterrupted supply lines can decide the outcome of a battle.
Ukraine, Russia, and Military Logistics
The essay examines Russia’s failures outside Kyiv and in the Donbas, where stalled convoys and weak resupply exposed the limits of combat power without effective logistics.
Weapons, Supply Lines, and NATO Support
Ackerman highlights the importance of keeping Ukraine supplied with Javelins, Stingers, ammunition, body armor, radios, night-vision devices, and other essential battlefield equipment.
The Lifeline of War
At its center, the piece argues that Ukraine’s lifeline runs through sustained resupply from the West, and that the side best able to adapt to logistical demands will hold the advantage.