KYIV, Ukraine - The Ukrainian military finds itself on the defensive as Russian forces recapture hard-won territory, including the southern village of Robotyne, marking a setback in the Ukrainian counteroffensive. The situation highlights the urgent need for military aid, as Ukraine fears a lack of resources to sustain the fight.

The United States recently announced the release of the last remaining Congress-approved military aid package available to Ukraine. However, delays in aid delivery have raised concerns among Ukrainian officials that further territory may be lost without American ammunition.

Congress has been hesitant to provide sustained assistance to Ukraine, obstructing Washington's efforts to send additional military aid. Last week's rejection of a $50 billion security package for Ukraine has pushed negotiations into next year, frustrating Ukrainian military leaders who are facing critical shortages of equipment and ammunition.

The latest $250 million aid package, announced this week, includes air defense equipment, artillery shells, and over 15 million rounds of small arms ammunition. However, American officials suggest that these funds may be the final tranche of available funding. The National Security Council spokesperson, John Kirby, warned that replenishment authority will no longer be available once the funds are exhausted.

The village of Robotyne, located in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, serves as a stark example of the challenges faced by Ukrainian troops. Ukrainian brigades, trained and equipped by the West, had successfully retaken the village in August after an extended period of fighting. However, the Institute for the Study of War reports that Russian forces have once again seized these positions, likely after Ukrainian troops withdrew to more defensible positions for the winter.

Russian troops have advanced from the southwest and east, pushing from the nearby village of Verbove, which Ukrainian forces had attempted but failed to capture earlier this summer. While Russian gains have been modest so far, with only a few square miles recaptured on the flanks of Robotyne, Ukrainian forces in the south admit that the situation is extremely difficult.

Evgeny Balitsky, the Russian-appointed head of the disputed Zaporizhzhia region, expressed hope that Russian troops would soon retake Robotyne and reach the starting line of Ukraine's counteroffensive, dealing a significant morale blow to Ukraine.

Robotyne had been one of the few successes of the Ukrainian counteroffensive. Its capture, which took much longer than anticipated, highlighted the challenges Ukraine faces in breaching Russia's formidable defenses.

With Ukrainian troops exhausted from months of intense fighting, Russia is stepping up pressure along the front line to limit Ukraine's ability to withdraw and replenish its units for future offensives. However, experts believe that Russia's costly strategy of accepting substantial human and material losses for limited territorial gains will not allow them to decisively end the conflict in the coming months.

The dynamics on the battlefield could potentially shift if Ukraine's allies continue to provide additional weapons and support. The fate of Ukraine's fight against Russian aggression now hinges on how quickly Congress acts to pass the much-needed aid package.

As Ukraine's troops find themselves on the back foot in various regions, the urgency to bolster their capabilities becomes increasingly evident. Failure to provide timely assistance could have severe consequences for Ukraine's territorial integrity and its ability to resist further Russian encroachments.