Russia's Military Still Sucks

A report released today summarizes, with supporting references, the myriad reasons that the Russian military is far less effective in practice than it seemed on paper. It concludes:

At the core of the problem are endemic issues within the Russian armed forces that have endured since WWII. Now, as then, risk adverse leaders allow junior leaders no initiative at the lower echelons. Poorly trained conscripts are unable to operate and maintain modern military equipment or conduct required complex maneuvers on the ground. Artillery and air support are used as mass terror weapons rather than as coordinated supporting arms for ground maneuver forces.

One key element it misses, however, is that Russia's decision to make an unprovoked invasion of Ukraine contrary to its prior treaty obligations and affirmations left it with few allies and little ability to promptly resupply itself, while providing Ukraine with allies across Europe and the globe who have provided it with arms, intelligence support, diplomatic support, and more. Wars are frequently won or lost based upon which allies the parties in the conflict have.