Russia adapting arms and tactics ahead of Ukraine counteroffensive, UK study says
- UK security think tank offers a ‘sober assessment’ ahead of pivotal Ukraine counteroffensive
- Even ridiculed ‘human waves’ of lightly armed infantry and ageing Russian tanks pose a threat to Ukraine
Russia’s military has changed the way it fights 15 months into its disastrous invasion of Ukraine and poses a significant threat as Kyiv prepares a major counteroffensive, a study released on Friday said.
Widespread perceptions of Russian army weakness are in some cases either out of date or misconceived according to the 30-page report by the UK’s Royal United Services Institute.
While the report described a military which is often dysfunctional, overreliant on artillery and suffering poor morale, it said the focus on these weaknesses means Russia’s battlefield advances have often been overlooked.
The study was drawn from April-May field interviews with 10 Ukrainian brigades that had fought Russian units across the war. It wasn’t possible to confirm the claims independently.
Russia’s military is far from the spent force often characterised, according to Nick Reynolds, one of the report’s two authors.
“There is a lot being thrown around on social media to suggest Russia’s lack of capacity, but social media is awash with propaganda on both sides and at this stage we thought a more sober assessment was needed,” Reynolds said, adding that expectations for Ukraine have been set “very, very high”.