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It wasn't an intelligence failure. It simply wasn't politically possible to mobilize two million Russian men for an invasion of their brother Slavic country, for many reasons, both domestic and international.
It would be like trying to get Americans to invade Canada. Putin has to convince the Russian people that they're not fighting Ukraine. They're fighting NATO. And that the Ukrainians are basically US puppets being used as a weapon for regime-change in Moscow.
In short, Putin has to convince the Russian people that Russia itself is threatened, that Eastern Ukraine is Russian, and that Russia is worth fighting for. If he can whip the Russians into a patriotic fervor, his Army could swell to whatever size they, and their allies, could supply.
Ah, there's the rub. They can't feed and clothe what they already have, let alone supply them with anything more than rifles.
The British Defence Ministry said on Saturday that "many reservists are likely required to purchase their own body armour."
"Coffins are already coming": The Toll of Russia’s Chaotic Draft
Newly mobilized recruits are already at the front in Ukraine, a growing chorus of reports says, fighting and dying after only days of training.
A half-dozen Russian soldiers talk about being shipped to an area of intense fighting in eastern Ukraine just 11 days after their mobilization. Asked about his shooting practice, a bearded conscript says, “Once. Three magazines.”
In a town near Yekaterinburg, in central Russia, newly mobilized men march in place in their street clothes. “No machine guns, nothing, no clothes, no shoes,” says an unidentified observer. “Half of them are hungover, old, at risk — the ambulance should be on duty.”
On Friday, President Vladimir V. Putin confirmed at a news conference that 16,000 recruits had already been deployed to combat units, some with as few as five to 10 days of training.
Lt. Col. Roman Malyk, incharge of Russia’s key efforts to mobilise against Ukraine, was found dead under “suspicious" circumstances, a report said on Sunday. Malyk was said to be a close aide of Russian President Vladimir Putin, and was found dead at his residence in Russia’s Primorsky area village.
An investigation has been launched into his death and suicide has not been ruled out as a cause by Russian police, reports said.
The British Defence Ministry said on Saturday that "many reservists are likely required to purchase their own body armour."
"Coffins are already coming": The Toll of Russia’s Chaotic Draft
Newly mobilized recruits are already at the front in Ukraine, a growing chorus of reports says, fighting and dying after only days of training.
A half-dozen Russian soldiers talk about being shipped to an area of intense fighting in eastern Ukraine just 11 days after their mobilization. Asked about his shooting practice, a bearded conscript says, “Once. Three magazines.”
In a town near Yekaterinburg, in central Russia, newly mobilized men march in place in their street clothes. “No machine guns, nothing, no clothes, no shoes,” says an unidentified observer. “Half of them are hungover, old, at risk — the ambulance should be on duty.”
On Friday, President Vladimir V. Putin confirmed at a news conference that 16,000 recruits had already been deployed to combat units, some with as few as five to 10 days of training.
Can you imagine, one day you are minding your own business, and the next day you are trying round up a sleeping bag, some medical supplies, and body armor because you are off to war.
I've read of drunken brawls, of new recruits complaining of being robbed of their cell phones, etc.
How Russian soldiers are prevented from running away:
Quote:
The Security Service of Ukraine [SSU] has received evidence of how the Russian barrier troops work; it appears that drafted convicts are shot by conscripted rookies, and those, in turn, are shot by regular troops.
Source: a telephone conversation between Russian invaders, recorded by the Security Service of Ukraine
Quote from an occupier: "The convicts were brought to us from a prison. They were led somewhere further forward. And we are here like barrier troops: if someone runs back, we take them out. This is how it is done here: that is, we are the second line here, guarding the first one, and there is a line behind us, too. You can’t run there either. It’s impossible to escape – our own guys will shoot us...".
Firing on the regions they just claimed, sounds normal. Just fire aimlessly since the army isn't capable.
Quote:
At least 13 people have been killed by Russian missile strikes on the south-eastern city of Zaporizhzhia, Ukrainian officials say.
Dozens more were wounded, and several residential buildings destroyed.
The city is under Ukrainian control, but it is part of a region that Russia says it annexed last month.
Zaporizhzhia has been hit repeatedly in recent weeks, as Russia hits back at urban areas after suffering defeats in the south and north-east of Ukraine.
Parts of the Zaporizhzhia region, including its nuclear power plant - which is around 52km (30 miles) from the city - have been under Russian control since early in the invasion.
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