Despite its dying publicity, the war in Ukraine is still ongoing as it enters its 409th day. In fact, it is only worsening as time passes. It has been over one year since Russia invaded Ukraine, and thousands of people have been injured or killed. Putin continues to seek Ukraine to rejoin what he views as his grand Russian Empire. As of recent reports ranging from December to March, the war has been in a stalemate since November 2022.

This means that there has not been enough pivotal movement from either side, inhibiting any progress. Edward A. Kolodzie, Emeritus Research Professor of Political Science at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, illustrated in an interview that U.S. supplies to Ukraine may maintain the deadlock but will not achieve anything. He suggests that the best outcome in this dire situation would be an agreement to stop firing, like the conclusion of the Korean War.

At this stage of the war, Ukraine’s most strategic option would be to obtain more artillery, according to military analyst Rob Lee.

An anonymous Ukrainian military official stated that they are firing 7,700 shells per day despite their shortage. However, Russia is firing nearly triple that number. There are talks that they are in a shortage as well. Although countries like the United States are sending ammunition to Ukraine, these supplies will take months to arrive. Additionally, the demand exceeds Western production rates.

This begs the question of what will happen next. Indeed, Russia feels unbothered by this four-month stalemate and would enjoy wasting more time to protect what they declare “their Ukraine,” according to Lee.

Unfortunately, the delay in shipping materials cannot be changed. Frankly, Western economies have other aspects to focus on. Despite their crisis, the Ukrainians are holding on to their materials and continuing to fight. However, Yuna Shin, a junior at Yorba Linda High School, is still “glad [that] the U.S. is helping them,” and she feels “sad that we can’t do [much] about it.”

This ammunition would definitely prove crucial for some progress in this war. Jennie Jeong, a sophomore at Sunny Hills High School, highlights that “ammunition shortages [are] one of the main limiting factors” for Ukraine.

It is bewildering that such a war is still occurring in modern times. History seems to repeat itself as Russia attempts to conquer one of its “lost territories” again. Hopefully, the ammunition will quickly reach the Ukrainians, so they can defend themselves against Russia.

<Kaylyn Kim Sunny Hills High School / 11th Grade>