Things We Have Learned about the Russian Military and Its Capabilities [View all]

[MineralMan]

Our own military intelligence branches know a great deal about the Russian military. Even so, we are learning additional things from Russia's attempted invasion of Ukraine. Some of what we are learning is bad news for Russia. By engaging in that invasion, Russia is revealing information it probably would rather we don't know. For example:

The Russian military, like ours, has developed secure, encrypted communications systems for its operations. However, Russia apparently does not have enough of it to supply its field units. A lot of the communications in the field have been unencrypted and transmitted on open channels that are easy to intercept. Field units are even using cell phones, something our own forces would never do.

Russian armored divisions have equipment aplenty, but cannot support that equipment with fuel on a long march into a territory. We saw tanks, armored personnel carriers, and much more bogged down and at a standstill on the route headed toward Kiiv. Worse, those convoys of armor were poorly protected and highly vulnerable to attack by small Ukrainian patrols carrying man-portable anti-tank armaments.

Russian military personnel are relatively poorly trained and poorly led. It is telling that Ukrainian farmers were able to tow off armored vehicles, rocket launchers, and other equipment with tractors. The Russian vehicles were out of fuel and apparently abandoned and left defenseless. Worse, for Russia, the equipment is the same as that in use by the Ukrainian army, so it can be turned against Russian forces, very easily.

We learned just how poorly trained and led the Russian troops really are. We've known for a very long time that Russian operates on a top-down leadership model. It doesn't have a large corps of well-trained NCOs. Worse, highly-ranked officers accompany military units to provide overall leadership. Many people, all the way up to General officers have been killed due to that practice.

Russian air operations, too, are spotty and sparse. Russian has state-of-the-art aircraft, but not enough of them, so much of the Russian air support and attack force is flying outdated aircraft. Often it is the same types flown by Ukraine. Worse, the pilots are poorly trained and do not fly frequently. Why? Because the planes are expensive to operate and maintain. So, portable ground to air missiles, including man-portable ones, have taken out Russian planes. Helicopters, as well. It's not safe to fly in Ukraine for Russian air force pilots.

And here's the kicker: Russia isn't really involved in any other foreign conflicts right now. Its forces are not spread out all over the planet. So, the poor performance of its military in Ukraine gives us a good look at what that military is capable of. Russia simply does not have a reliable military it can send into the field against any well-trained and well-supplied military of any country. That is especially true of NATO countries. Russia is out of its comfort zone in Ukraine. It can't handle a conflict with any NATO forces. Period.

We have learned a great deal. None of it is good news for Russia. Really, the Ukraine invasion is an embarrassment for Putin's Russia. Russia's military looks a lot like a Keystone Kops movie. That said, Russia has had to resort to attacking civilian targets from a safe distance. It's not a good look for Putin at all.

Everyone else is paying close attention. All of NATO is doing a face-palm, I think.

Really, Putin? This is what you have? OK, then...