Russian ground forces in Ukraine seem to be getting into a desperate fix

Robert Fox16 March 2022
WEST END FINAL

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Much of Russia’s Poor Bloody Infantry, to borrow that old phrase, are stuck in their positions as they try to surround the cities, which are being devastated by artillery, rocket, and ballistic missile strike from a distance. In Kherzon, at least they patrol in vehicles — faced by fearless, unarmed Ukrainian crowds who tell them to push off home.

In the field, they face supply problems with fuel and food. Vehicles lack heating. Some observers believe morale will collapse swiftly since soldiers cannot manoeuvre, withdraw or be reinforced.

Infantry are the soul of Russia. Think of those grainy images from the Battle of Stalingrad of Russian soldiers, the Ivans, crouching forward behind tanks and carriers. The infantry knew how to use the ruins for snipers nests, and to “shoot and scoot” through networks of cellars. These are the base skills of fighting in built-up areas (FBUA) which Russian infantry now face.

The mess is compounded by breakdowns in command. Three Russian generals have been killed. Key special forces and GRU intelligence commanders have fallen to snipers in cities such as Mariupol. Command helicopters have been shot out of the sky. Battlefield radios have failed. Thousands of soldiers have been captured or killed. Vladimir Putin has begun firing close advisers, among them Sergey Beseda, head of the FSB intelligence service — the president’s supposed expert on Ukraine — plus his deputy Anatoly Bolyukh and seven senior staff.

Ukraine’s second big advantage is the use, or abuse of conscripts. Putin has brought forward the spring cycle of call-up by a month – a sure sign of trouble. Russia calls up 400,000 conscripts for its vast array of services each year. How many Russian mothers and fathers want their sons to be liable for service in a war none asked for?

Putin’s men are calling for reinforcements from Syrian mercenaries, their own Wagner company, mercenaries, the Chechens, and whatever Belarus can offer — which isn’t much.

A collapse of morale in the field in Ukraine could well be matched by a surge of protest, defiance and worse, back home in Russia.

Robert Fox is the Evening Standard’s Defence Editor

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