Russia's army under stress looks a lot like its Great Patriotic War brethren. Putin perhaps reveals too much with his propaganda push to make his invasion of Ukraine the Great Patriotic War 2.0 to bolster public support. Or maybe Putin just looks at World War II with Stalin-tinted glasses.
Russia boasts advanced weapons and a modern military. But the advanced weapons are running out and the modern military Putin built is looking a bit too traditional:
Despite twenty years of modernization, the nature of the Russian military, particularly the Russian Army, bears some of the same characteristics of its World War II predecessor. 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.
This leaves Russia expending lives to overwhelm an enemy today, just as it did in World War II.
Contrast that with the American way of war that spends money to avoid shedding blood*:
[Always] remember that we spend money to avoid spending blood--ours and the enemy's. Let me know if you want to send our troops in without body armor or MRAPs or top-of-the-line M-1s. Let me know if you think it is acceptable for wounded troops to wait hours before being evacuated to get medical help. Let me know if you think it costs too much to train them. Heck, let me know if you want to get rid of expensive precision weapons and rely on dumb bombs and shells that get more of our people killed running many more shells and bombs to the shooters, kill more of our people with friendly fire and more effective enemy fire because we move slower and the enemy isn't dead or suppressed, and even kills more of the enemy and innocent civilians.
Russia might still win if it can mass enough men and firepower. But while the character of the Russian army may not have changed much, Russia's demographic and industrial base isn't as good as it was in World War II.
Nor does Russia have the massive military and economic aid that the Allies poured into Russia after actual Nazis invaded Russia in 1941. Unless China steps up to provide trucks, ammunition, and the raw materials to produce weapons, how will Russia keep up that pace if Ukraine doesn't crack?
But that is what is driving Putin's vision for some sort of victory. I only almost feel sorry for the Russians at this point.
*And really, spending money instead of blood is necessary sustain our willingness to fight overseas. It is one more cost of playing "away" games far from our shores.
NOTE: Winter War of 2022 coverage continues here.
