Chicago-(EJP) Russia has one of the largest and most powerful armed forces in the world, but that has not been apparent in its initial invasion of Ukraine. Many military analysts in the West have been surprised by its performance on the battlefield so far, with one describing it as "dismal".
Its military advances appear to have largely stalled and some now question whether it can recover from the losses it has suffered. This week, a senior Nato military official told the BBC, "the Russians clearly have not achieved their goals and probably will not at the end of the day". So what has gone wrong? I have spoken to senior Western military officers and intelligence officials, about the mistakes Russia has made.
Misguided assumptionsRussia's first mistake was to underestimate the strength of resistance and the capabilities of Ukraine's own smaller armed forces. Russia has an annual defence budget of more than $60bn, compared with Ukraine's spending of just over $4bn.
At the same time, Russia, and many others, appear to have overestimated its own military strengths. President Putin had embarked on an ambitious modernisation programme for his military and he too may have believed his own hype.
© BBCWhat have been Russia's military mistakes?A senior British military official said much of Russia's investment had been spent on its vast nuclear arsenal and experimentation, that included developing new weapons such as hypersonic missiles. Russia is supposed to have built the world's most advanced tank - the T-14 Armata. But while it has been seen on Moscow's Victory Day Parade on Red Square, it has been missing in battle. Most of what Russia has fielded are older T-72 tanks, armoured personnel carriers, artillery and rocket launchers.
Business InsiderRussia's staggering losses over 3 weeks of Ukraine fighting already exceed entire wars
Hear top US general's assessment of Russia's troops
Retired General Says ‘We’re Watching Russia Go Down’ as a World Power: ‘China Doesn’t Want to Be Part of Any of That’
A retired U.S. general and former advisor to Ukraine’s military said Russia’s invasion shows it’s just about finished as a “player on the international stage” and said Russia’s relationship with China may be in peril. Appearing on Fox News Friday, retired Maj. Gen. Michael Repass reacted to a White House readout of President Joe Biden’s […] The post Retired General Says ‘We’re Watching Russia Go Down’ as a World Power:
316
Its military advances appear to have largely stalled and some now question whether it can recover from the losses it has suffered. This week, a senior Nato military official told the BBC, "the Russians clearly have not achieved their goals and probably will not at the end of the day". So what has gone wrong? I have spoken to senior Western military officers and intelligence officials, about the mistakes Russia has made.
Misguided assumptionsRussia's first mistake was to underestimate the strength of resistance and the capabilities of Ukraine's own smaller armed forces. Russia has an annual defence budget of more than $60bn, compared with Ukraine's spending of just over $4bn.
At the same time, Russia, and many others, appear to have overestimated its own military strengths. President Putin had embarked on an ambitious modernisation programme for his military and he too may have believed his own hype.
© BBCWhat have been Russia's military mistakes?A senior British military official said much of Russia's investment had been spent on its vast nuclear arsenal and experimentation, that included developing new weapons such as hypersonic missiles. Russia is supposed to have built the world's most advanced tank - the T-14 Armata. But while it has been seen on Moscow's Victory Day Parade on Red Square, it has been missing in battle. Most of what Russia has fielded are older T-72 tanks, armoured personnel carriers, artillery and rocket launchers.
Business InsiderRussia's staggering losses over 3 weeks of Ukraine fighting already exceed entire wars
Hear top US general's assessment of Russia's troops
Retired General Says ‘We’re Watching Russia Go Down’ as a World Power: ‘China Doesn’t Want to Be Part of Any of That’
A retired U.S. general and former advisor to Ukraine’s military said Russia’s invasion shows it’s just about finished as a “player on the international stage” and said Russia’s relationship with China may be in peril. Appearing on Fox News Friday, retired Maj. Gen. Michael Repass reacted to a White House readout of President Joe Biden’s […] The post Retired General Says ‘We’re Watching Russia Go Down’ as a World Power:
316
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