Putin’s recruits are heading for slaughter
Retired Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling commanded the 1st Armored Division during the Iraq surge and later commanded U.S. Army Europe.
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decision to activate 300,000 “reservists” —some of whom have previously served, some who have not— to hold the line in Ukraine has led thousands of young Russian men to flee the country. The call-up is an outrage, but not only for the reasons you might imagine. Sending new recruits, poorlytrained Russian reservists and untrained civilians into Ukraine is a recipe for slaughter. They will not be prepared for what they will encounter.
Years ago, I was given the command of the organization that oversees all basic training for the Army (what some call “boot camp”) as well as managing the advanced training that follows for every Army trooper. At the time, the United States was recruiting approximately 160,000 soldiers, warrant officers and officers each year.
Most Americans who volunteer to join the Army undergo 10 weeks of basic training, then head to different locations for more training in an assigned specialty. “Basic” is a packed period in which soldiers learn and practice such skills as rifle marksmanship, first aid, map reading, land navigation and grenade throwing. They also learn about working as part of a team, reacting to various kinds of attacks (artillery, chemical, ambush, etc.), drill and ceremony (how to march, salute and other elements of discipline), professional ethos and values, and a variety of other skills. It is intense.
The length of the follow-on training depends on the specialty selected by each soldier, but it’s measured in months, not weeks. An intelligence specialist who works as an interpreter spends almost a year learning the trade. Logistics specialists — truck drivers, fuelers, mechanics — spend less, depending on their jobs. Most recruits will spend three or four years in uniform, and a large percentage reenlist and stay in the professional force.
I later became the commander of the U.S. Army in Europe. In that role, I was able to visit Russia several times and observe how another army trained its conscripts and incorporated them into its force.
Russia’s army is mainly a conscript force. Twice a year, Russian men between the ages of 18 and 27 present themselves to their local commissariat. This annual pool is more than 1 million men, from which 120,000 to 140,000 are deemed qualified and are compelled to serve. Russian conscripts then participate in one to two months of basic training (the exact number of weeks is not defined), followed by three to six months of advanced training in a particular skill set. Graduated soldiers report to their units for a short 12- to 18-month enlistment. Fewmake the army a career.
It is easy to see why. Russian drill sergeants were unprofessional and continuously harassed and hazed recruits. Marksmanship training was geared toward familiarization with a weapon, but not qualification on it. Soldiers were allocated few rounds for practice on firing ranges. First aid training was rudimentary, map reading and land navigation was nonexistent, soldier initiative was lacking, and discipline was lax.
The barracks were crowded, bunks were close, ventilation was poor. Showers and toilets were gang latrines. Food in the mess halls had small portions, no choices and little nutritional value. I didn’t observe any training on values, soldiers’ ethics, professional behavior, or the teaching of land warfare, all key parts of U.S. basic training. Most training in those areas, I was told by a Russian colonel, is conducted after soldiers leave basic and report to their units. To which I could only conclude: Yeah, right.
Shortly thereafter, I visited a tank regiment. I was ushered to that battalion’s single T-72 tank crew simulator, participated in a drill, and found the device rudimentary and unrealistic. U.S. armor crewmen spend extensive time in tank simulators before firing dozens of live rounds at different types of moving and stationary targets at extended ranges — on multiple types of tank ranges. After experiencing the Russian simulator, I went to their single tank range and was proudly told by the Russian commander that each of his crews was able to fire one live round per year. I tried to keep my jaw from dropping.
Having watched the Russian army during the first seven months of its campaign in Ukraine, I cannot say I’m surprised by any of their setbacks. The Russians performed as their training would have suggested: poorly. The casualty counts reflect this. It is no wonder so many young Russians are fleeing the country.
Which brings us back to how Putin’s 300,000 “reservists” will fare against Ukraine’s NATO-trained army. It is likely those recruits will join units that have recently been traumatized after seven months of combat and already suffer from poor morale. It won’t help that those units have recently been reinforced with prison parolees, ragtag militias from false “peoples’ republics,” and recruited guns from private armies.
The results will be predictable. Putin might continue to send unwilling Russian men to an ill-conceived and illegal invasion for which they are not trained or prepared. But it’s not warfare. It’s just more murder — this time of his own citizens.
Link
Russian Official Admits Putin's War Going Badly: 'We're on the Defensive'
A Russian official admitted Russian President Vladimir Putin's military is "playing catch up" against Ukraine during a recent appearance on Russian state TV.
Putin launched his invasion of Ukraine more than nine months earlier in February, hoping for a quick victory against his Eastern European neighbor. However, Ukraine responded with a stronger-than-anticipated defense effort, bolstered by Western military aid, that has prevented Moscow from making substantial military gains.
Andrei Gurulyov, a member of the state Duma and ex-general of the Russian military, acknowledged Moscow's struggles while speaking on Russian state TV. Video of the exchange was translated and posted to Twitter by BBC reporter Francis Scarr on Sunday.
"There are things which are undeniable. We are well aware that they've been supplying things to Ukraine," Gurulyov said, referring to the Ukraine's Western allies. "It started with helmets and body armor. Then it was firearms, ammunition, and after that howitzers."
He griped about Ukraine receiving military aid from the West—as the Kremlin has repeatedly spoken out against this assistance—that has been attributed to turning the tide of the war in favor of the Ukrainians.
"Next, HIMARS, and now Patriot systems. Next will be Abrams tanks or Leopards. It doesn't matter. It will all arrive at some point," Gurulyov said. "All of that is going to arrive."
After months of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky pleading with U.S. officials to send longer-range weapons, the Biden administration appears poised to provide Ukraine with Patriot systems. These advanced surface-to-air-missiles are considered one of the most capable weapons at knocking out incoming ballistic and cruise missiles. Experts expect the system will be a significant boost for Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova warned the missiles could lead to "an escalation of the conflict" during a press conference last week.
Gurulyov lamented that Russia's military leaders are often stuck playing "catch up" whenever Ukraine receives new weapons, rather than already having a strategy in place to combat these missile systems.
"Unfortunately, in this regard, we're playing catch up. We're on the defensive. We wait for them to bring something and then work out how to fight against it. That's the situation, isn't it? That's how it is, unfortunately," he said.
Robert English, professor of international relations at the University of Southern California, told Newsweek on Sunday that too many Russians are aware of their military's blunders for officials to "keep lying" about the reality of the conflict.
"So admitting that the Russian military has bogged down and suffered major defeats is unavoidable. And that's particularly so if the Kremlin want to prepare their people for more months of war. Paradoxically, to keep public support for more sacrifice they have to admit to the huge sacrifices already made. It may not work, but they have to try," English said in a written statement.
Gurulyov's remarks are the latest indication that Russia's invasion continues to falter.
Throughout the conflict, reports have emerged about Russia struggling to maintain motivated, well-trained forces. Ukraine said this week that more than 1 million Russian soldiers have called a surrender hotline as the death toll of Russian troops approaches 100,000. As Russia struggles to take new Ukrainian territory, its military has turned to airstrikes against civilian infrastructure ahead of winter.
Barry R. McCaffrey, a retired U.S. Army general, said during an MSNBC appearance on Friday that Putin has already strategically lost the war. "Operationally they're not able to deal essentially with a very active, aggressive Ukrainian military force," he said.
Newsweek reached out to Russia and Ukraine's defense ministries, as well as foreign policy analysts, for comment.
https://www.newsweek.com/russian-off...ensive-1767980
In this tweet, Russian propagandist Andrei Gurulyov admits Russia is basically fucked...
https://twitter.com/francis_scarr/st...24873245171712
The American edition wrote about the growing concern of the United States and Ukraine
Washington and Kyiv are seriously concerned about the prospects for the further development of the armed conflict. This is reported by the American newspaper Politico.
According to the publication, the counter-offensive of the Ukrainian troops, which at the end of the summer of 2022 looked quite successful, has now practically stopped. Russian troops occupied defensive lines and fortified their positions. Winter also played its role: the onset of frosts slowed down the course of hostilities. At the same time, the publication, apparently, is not fully aware that there were no frosts in most areas of the NWO in the last few days, but there was impassable mud, and often remains to this day.
Now in Kyiv they are talking about a possible new offensive by the Russian army in the coming weeks. Thus, Russian troops, according to a number of Ukrainian politicians, may launch an attack on Kyiv itself, including from the territory of neighboring Belarus.
As for the United States, it is not very clear how the situation with military and financial assistance to Ukraine will develop further. President Joe Biden faces two major challenges. The first of these is the unpredictable behavior of the Republican Party, which has won a majority in the House of Representatives of the US Congress. Earlier, the Republicans said that if they do not reduce it, they will very carefully check the assistance provided to Ukraine.
The second problem is the high risk of recession in Europe. Already, inflation in European countries reaches 11%. It is possible that additional millions of Ukrainians will rush to the European Union to escape the dark and cold winter: after all, Ukrainian cities were left without heat and light after rocket attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure facilities. American observers also suggest thinking about this.
In this regard, it is becoming increasingly difficult to convince European governments of the need for further financial injections in support of the Kyiv regime. Moreover, the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky refuses to start negotiations with the Russian leadership. This uncompromising position irritates the European countries more and more. And in the United States itself, more and more people oppose the overly belligerent position of the Kyiv regime.
https://en.topwar.ru/207059-amerikanskoe-izdanie-napisalo-o-rastuschem-bespokojstve-ssha-i-ukrainy-po-povodu-sledujuschej-fazy-konflikta.html
