Status: 26.11.2023, 21:16 PM
By: Christoph Gschoßmann
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Russia's war effort is increasingly faltering. Two military officers report on the current gloomy prospects of the Kremlin army.
Moscow - In February 2024, the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine will last exactly two years. There is no end in sight. The original goal of the Russians, a rapid invasion of the whole country, was clearly missed. Ukraine, on the other hand, has recently celebrated considerable successes, for example through drone strikes. On the Russian side, too, assessments by military officers suggest that Moscow's prospects seem rather bleak. They also complained about a lack of strategy on the part of the Russian leadership.
Ukraine war: "No prerequisites for collapse of the Ukrainian front"
Military officer Roman Zaponkov told the Russian media company RTVI in an interview that he does not believe that Moscow will be able to overcome Ukrainian defenses in the foreseeable future. He also defended himself against claims that Kiev was running out of resources. Apti Alaudinov, commander of the Russian special forces, had stated this.
"In the summer, as a rule, they had a completely unlimited supply of grenades. And now, in principle, I have not heard of any shortage of any sector of the front," Saponkov said of Ukraine's artillery stockpiles. He added that Ukrainian shelling and drone strikes have made it difficult for Russia to replenish its own weapons and equipment. Above all, Moscow's army lacks missiles, which are to be increasingly replaced by drones due to cheaper production. Russian state media had also reported on a drone instructor program as a compulsory subject at Russian military academies.
According to Zaponkov's assessment, there are still no "prerequisites for a major offensive or a collapse of the [Ukrainian] front." According to Saponkov, Ukraine has so far successfully repelled Russia's offensive on the Donetsk city of Avdiivka in eastern Ukraine. "They are completely holding back our offensive on Avdiivka," Zaponkov said. Since October, there have been increasingly violent clashes in the region.
Russian officer criticizes lack of strategy in Ukraine invasion
Russian military officer Alexei Shivov also commented on the war. He criticized a lack of strategy on the part of the top leadership, saying that commanders did not share basic information, such as where in Ukraine troops are expected to focus on the war in the near future. "We haven't even formulated medium-term [war] goals," Shiwow denounced. "Due to the fact that we don't understand what plans our military command has, we can't say where we're going to break through in the spring."
Zhivov added that Russia has not been able to make the same progress in Ukraine as it did in the initial stages of the war. "Have you noticed that it has been a long time since we have carried out such large-scale offensive movements as in the first weeks of the war?" asked Shviow. "[At that time] we worked according to a certain scenario that was worked out and approved by the [Russian] General Staff, where everyone, more or less, knew his place and time, where and when to go," the military officer said. (cgsc)