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I have hesitated to post much about Ukraine lately as reliable information is hard to come by. However, the Telegram channels I have long watched on both sides, and personal contacts I have, are awash with similar reports from their own sources.
Make of this what you will.
5 comments to This is interesting: a shift in Ukraine
The Soviet armed forces historically neglected infantry training and tactics – and the Russian army has carried on this bad practice.
Various Russian Generals keep saying that things have changed – that infantry tactics are now being taught, that Russia now has real NCOs (rather than soldiers who survive and are, automatically, promoted – because “he survived – so he must be good”) but on-the-ground the evidence is not yet in of any profound change. Yes there are cases where Russian soldiers have shown initiative – but the general performance of the army is still not good.
On the Ukrainian side, the army had much the same neglect of infantry training till 2014 – but after the fall of Crimea and so on, there was a profound change – and the Ukrainians went much for modern weapons (mostly supplied by Britain and the United States) and training (ditto – mostly supplied by Britain and the United States) the fruits of those weapons (for example anti tank weapons) and training, was shown in 2022.
After four years of war, if the Russian army has still not got its act together in terms of training and tactics, blaming this or that General will not do – the Commander in Chief, Mr Putin, has (at this stage) to be to blame – both for the decision to go to war, and for the terrible tactics and lack of training that have led to such high casualties.
If Mr Putin had any personal honour he would kill himself – as it is, someone else will have to do this for him.
By the way – even if Russia “wins” the war tomorrow, the above still stands – no gains are worth the terrible casualties of Mr Putin’s war.
From a Russian point of view (let alone a Ukrainian point of view) Mr Putin should still be executed – even if he “wins” the war tomorrow. The losses have been vast – and the gains of little value.
As for drones – yes they are important, but perhaps not quite as important as the Gentleman suggests.
Most accounts I’ve read over last year indicate up to 70% of all battlefield casualties on the Ukraine FEBA are caused by drones, so you might be wrong about that.
Drones are to this century what tanks were to the last – only cheaper. They change everything. I hope the brass at Sandhurst, St Cyr and West Point are revising training.
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The Soviet armed forces historically neglected infantry training and tactics – and the Russian army has carried on this bad practice.
Various Russian Generals keep saying that things have changed – that infantry tactics are now being taught, that Russia now has real NCOs (rather than soldiers who survive and are, automatically, promoted – because “he survived – so he must be good”) but on-the-ground the evidence is not yet in of any profound change. Yes there are cases where Russian soldiers have shown initiative – but the general performance of the army is still not good.
On the Ukrainian side, the army had much the same neglect of infantry training till 2014 – but after the fall of Crimea and so on, there was a profound change – and the Ukrainians went much for modern weapons (mostly supplied by Britain and the United States) and training (ditto – mostly supplied by Britain and the United States) the fruits of those weapons (for example anti tank weapons) and training, was shown in 2022.
After four years of war, if the Russian army has still not got its act together in terms of training and tactics, blaming this or that General will not do – the Commander in Chief, Mr Putin, has (at this stage) to be to blame – both for the decision to go to war, and for the terrible tactics and lack of training that have led to such high casualties.
If Mr Putin had any personal honour he would kill himself – as it is, someone else will have to do this for him.
By the way – even if Russia “wins” the war tomorrow, the above still stands – no gains are worth the terrible casualties of Mr Putin’s war.
From a Russian point of view (let alone a Ukrainian point of view) Mr Putin should still be executed – even if he “wins” the war tomorrow. The losses have been vast – and the gains of little value.
As for drones – yes they are important, but perhaps not quite as important as the Gentleman suggests.
Most accounts I’ve read over last year indicate up to 70% of all battlefield casualties on the Ukraine FEBA are caused by drones, so you might be wrong about that.
Old Jack Tar – I might be wrong, but I suspect I am not wrong.
Drones are to this century what tanks were to the last – only cheaper. They change everything. I hope the brass at Sandhurst, St Cyr and West Point are revising training.