Ukrainian forces locked in a grinding battle for control of the country's east struggled to hold off Russian troops and buy themselves some time Thursday while they await the arrival of the advanced rockets and anti-aircraft weapons promised by the West.
With the arms deliveries possibly weeks away, Ukraine is looking at a prolonged period of grueling combat, military analysts said.
"There's a time lag, so the next few weeks are going to be pretty tough for our Ukrainian friends," said retired US Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges, former commanding general of US Army forces in Europe.