So are we to dismiss this article because its the Guardian or are we to embrace it as the truth?
It depends. For the narrative shills: yes, dismiss it out of hand.
I'm sure the Guardian was trying to generate sympathy to keep the money flowing, but other sources have reported that a chunk of the money the US is sending is being siphoned by Zelensky and friends. So I regard it as a little bit of truth seeping out.
The only time “the Guardian” inadvertently tells the truth about Ukraine is when they are attempting to inhibit eroding war support by evoking sympathy.