VOA标准英语2015--俄罗斯武器挑战乌克兰军事

Russian Weapons Challenge Ukrainian Military 俄罗斯武器挑战乌克兰军事

LONDON—

Experts say the rebels in eastern Ukraine are using sophisticated Russian weapons that require specialized¹ skills to operate and could only have come directly from Russia.  The analysis comes as both sides withdraw heavy weapons as part of the shaky ceasefire deal, and NATO accuses Russia of continuing to supply the rebels.  

Inspectors² from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe check Ukrainian government rocket launchers being withdrawn³ from the front lines.

Eighty kilometers to the south, another team monitors the withdrawal⁴ of rebel tanks.

But these are not necessarily the rebels’ best weapons.  The most modern items, apparently⁵ sent from Russia, are few in number, but potentially significant, says Nic Jenzen-Jones, director of the consulting firm Armament Research Services, who spoke⁶ via Skype.

“Some of the larger systems, even in the small numbers documented since we released the report, could prove if not decisive then certainly influential," said Jenzen-Jones.

His firm’s report says experts have misidentified weapons on both sides..  But it confirms the rebels have weapons they could not have gotten from within Ukraine, as they claim.  These range from modern rifles to new Russian battle tanks, including this one the Ukrainian government says its troops destroyed.

On Wednesday, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Russian supplies continue to flow.

“We have seen and we still see Russian presence and strong support for the separatists in Eastern Ukraine. We see the delivery of equipment, forces, training," said Stoltenberg.

Stoltenberg also said he regretted Russia’s decision to withdraw from consultations⁷ based on the Treaty on Conventional Forces in Europe --  a post-Cold War agreement.

That accord has not stopped Russia from supplying sophisticated weapons to the rebels, says Joseph Dempsey of the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

“We’ve see types of equipment, particularly armored vehicles, including main battle tanks that have never been exported to Ukraine.  So there’s no other logical reason to believe that they would be in the country other than an external supply, namely Russia. These are quite advanced systems, and require a good degree of experience and expertise⁸ in order to use them effectively," said Dempsey.

He says that means either Russian troops or Russian training.

Concerns about Russian weapons in eastern Ukraine, and the potential for further Western military supplies to the Ukrainian government, have eased somewhat because of the ceasefire.  But if hostilities⁹ resume, the experts say the Ukrainians may need radar¹⁰ systems, anti-tank weapons and other modern systems.  But they also note Russia could counter any Western aid, potentially leading to an even deadlier conflict. 

1 specialized   

adj.专门的，专业化的

参考例句：

• There are many specialized agencies in the United Nations.联合国有许多专门机构。
• These tools are very specialized.这些是专用工具。

2 inspectors   

n.检查员( inspector的名词复数 )；（英国公共汽车或火车上的）查票员；（警察）巡官；检阅官

参考例句：

• They got into the school in the guise of inspectors. 他们假装成视察员进了学校。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Inspectors checked that there was adequate ventilation. 检查员已检查过，通风良好。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 withdrawn   

vt.收回；使退出；vi.撤退，退出

参考例句：

• Our force has been withdrawn from the danger area.我们的军队已从危险地区撤出。
• All foreign troops should be withdrawn to their own countries.一切外国军队都应撤回本国去。

4 withdrawal   

n.取回，提款；撤退，撤军；收回，撤销

参考例句：

• The police were forced to make a tactical withdrawal.警方被迫进行战术撤退。
• They insisted upon a withdrawal of the statement and a public apology.他们坚持要收回那些话并公开道歉。

5 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

6 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

7 consultations   

n.磋商（会议）( consultation的名词复数 )；商讨会；协商会；查找

参考例句：

• Consultations can be arranged at other times by appointment. 磋商可以通过预约安排在其他时间。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Consultations are under way. 正在进行磋商。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

8 expertise   

n.专门知识(或技能等)，专长

参考例句：

• We were amazed at his expertise on the ski slopes.他斜坡滑雪的技能使我们赞叹不已。
• You really have the technical expertise in a new breakthrough.让你真正在专业技术上有一个全新的突破。

9 hostilities   

n.战争；敌意(hostility的复数)；敌对状态；战事

参考例句：

• Mexico called for an immediate cessation of hostilities. 墨西哥要求立即停止敌对行动。
• All the old hostilities resurfaced when they met again. 他们再次碰面时，过去的种种敌意又都冒了出来。

10 radar   

n.雷达，无线电探测器

参考例句：

• They are following the flight of an aircraft by radar.他们正在用雷达追踪一架飞机的飞行。
• Enemy ships were detected on the radar.敌舰的影像已显现在雷达上。