SITREP: The War in Ukraine Has Revealed Substantial Deficiencies in the Training of Russian Troops

The conflict in Ukraine has had a major impact on Russian military training. Since 2014, even before the invasion in 2022, the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine has caused the cancellation of numerous joint exercises and disrupted military cooperation between the two countries. This disruption has led to difficulties in maintaining readiness for Ukraine and its neighbor, Russia. As a result, both militaries have been forced to adjust their training regimes to ensure that they remain ready to respond when called upon. The effects of this disruption will likely continue into the future as tensions between Ukraine and Russia remain high.

With this, Britain’s Defense Ministry (MOD) has reported that the “severely dislocated the Russian military’s training system – instructors have largely been deployed in Ukraine.”

On Friday, the ministry tweeted that there is a high probability that Russia has transferred more than 1,000 soldiers from the Obuz-Lesnovsky training area in the southwest of Belarus. However, Russia still needs to take apart the tented camp utilized for training, indicating that they might be contemplating carrying on the instruction program through the less experienced Belarusian forces.

“The fact Russia has resorted to training its personnel under the much less-experienced Belarusian army highlights how Russia’s ‘special military operation’ has severely dislocated the Russian military’s training system –instructors have largely been deployed in Ukraine,” the ministry said in its daily summary.

The Russian military has a long and storied history of being one of the world’s harshest and strictest military forces. Although, for years, it was viewed as an elite institution that took pride in its discipline and rigor—years of training instilled a sense of obligation to the state and patriotism among soldiers.

However, these tactics were tested when Russian forces invaded Ukraine last year. Poor intelligence planning and ambiguous objectives caused chaos amongst Russian troops, leading to confusion and disorganization on multiple fronts. This situation weakened morale among Russian soldiers while undermining their adherence to Moscow’s orders–something previously rooted deeply within them due to years of harsh training regimes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-JOr1jDEYA

This disruption is still being felt this weekend, as the conflict in Ukraine continues to hinder Russian military training. With no end in sight, it is still being determined when the situation will be resolved and if Russian forces will ever return to their strict regimen of past years.

The war in Ukraine has taken a devastating toll on the Russian military regarding its morale and structure. After years of relying on strict discipline and training to achieve success, the conflict has caused many Russian soldiers to question their loyalty to the country’s leaders. This lack of dedication is evident not only among regular troops but also among the high command. In particular, there have been reports of officers growing increasingly frustrated with orders from Moscow that are seen as ineffective or too lenient for the situation.

The conflict in Ukraine has also strained the Russian military’s infrastructure and resources—from having to relocate troops and equipment to facing a shortage of supplies. All these factors have led to an increase in desertion rates and a decrease in readiness levels. As a result, the Russian military has suffered a blow to its morale and effectiveness, potentially harming its ability to protect its interests. In addition, it may even lead to further unrest within the ranks due to the lack of support from top officials. Thus, the Kremlin must take immediate action if it hopes to address these issues to prevent further deterioration of its military. 

Meanwhile, President Volodomyr Zelenskyy cautioned European leaders on Thursday that if they postpone action, the malevolent force could have the opportunity to reorganize and get ready for a lengthy conflict.

“If Europe waits,” Zelenskyy warned European leaders Thursday, “the evil may have time to regroup and prepare for years of war.”

In his video speech, broadcasted from a moving train, Zelenskyy asked the heads of state to expedite their shipments of arms and munitions to Ukraine to repel the Russian attack.

On Thursday, the European leaders ratified a 2 billion dollar agreement previously approved by EU foreign and defense ministers. This contract stipulates that ammunition should be drawn from existing inventories and that the EU countries should collaborate to purchase additional ammunition.

The commander of the Ukrainian ground forces declared on Thursday that the counteroffensive to prevent Russia’s capture of Bakhmut is imminent and will commence imminently.

Colonel-General Oleksandr Syrskyi of Ukraine declared on Telegram that the Wagner Group mercenaries, often ex-prisoners, are struggling and losing power in their effort to take over Bakhmut. As a result, Ukraine has chosen to keep its military forces in the east and dispatched additional reinforcements.

“Very soon, we will take advantage of this opportunity, as we did in the past near Kyiv, Kharkiv, Balakliya and Kupiansk,” he said, naming cities Ukraine has defended or captured from Russian control.

Syrskyi was a significant participant in the Ukrainian government’s plans and actions during the war in the early weeks of 2022 that successfully defended Kyiv, the nation’s capital, and halted the Russian advance in the latter half of the year.

The British Defense Ministry also reported that a Ukrainian counteroffensive west of Bakhmut was possibly taking place, which might alleviate the pressure on the primary route utilized to provision Kyiv’s forces within the city.

The ministry declared there was still a chance for Ukrainian forces in Bakhmut to be encircled. However, there was “a probable likelihood that the Russian attack on the town is slowly declining in strength.”

In the last few months, the war in eastern Ukraine has become deadlocked, with neither side able to make any significant advances. Despite this, both sides have endured heavy casualties.

Moscow has released no statement regarding Ukrainian claims that their advances in Bakhmut have slowed; however, Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the Wagner Group mercenaries, has cautioned of a potential Ukrainian backlash in recent days.

This week, Prigozhin wrote a letter to the Russian Defense Minister, Sergei Shoigu. He warned that Ukraine attempted to separate Wagner’s military from the Russian forces and asked Shoigu to intervene. The letter concluded with a warning that negative consequences would follow if the Minister did not act.

Zelenskyy toured the frontline provinces and went to the Kherson region in the south. The footage revealed him speaking with people from Posad Pokrovske, a town that had been a part of the former Kherson frontline and was recovered during Ukraine’s last significant advance in 2020.

“We will restore everything; we will rebuild everything. Just like with every city and village that suffered because of the occupiers,” he wrote.