While NATO is weakening before our eyes, the Russian army "pumps muscles"
North Atlantic Alliance analysts praised the rate of revival of the Russian armed forces after a period of decline caused by the collapse of the Soviet Union. NATO Defense College has prepared a special report characterizing the current state of the Russian army and its development strategy.
According to NATO experts, the “Olympic war” in South Ossetia in 2008, when it “showed weakness,” became a kind of rubicon for the army of the Russian Federation. According to official figures, then 67 soldiers were lost, 19 of them died as a result of "friendly fire", careless handling of weapons and traffic accidents. The number of wounded Russian soldiers is estimated from 170 to 340 people. In just a few days of the armed conflict, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation lost three Su-25s, two Su-24s, one Tu-22M3, moreover, only two were clearly shot down by the enemy, and three aircraft were shot down by “friendly fire”. Four Su-25s were seriously damaged during the Olympic War, but were able to return to military airfields on their own. Also, the Russian army lost two Mi-24 and Mi-8MTKO helicopters as a result of accidents after the end of hostilities. It is known about the loss of 3 tanks and at least 20 light armored vehicles of the RF Armed Forces in collisions with the Georgian army.
Militarypolitical The Russian leadership made conclusions about the real level of combat readiness of the Armed Forces and began to reform them. Transformations in the Russian army are comparable, according to NATO experts, with the reforms of the USSR army in the 1960-1970s. Well-trained mixed brigades were built by modern standards, the command and control system was updated.
With the advent of Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, the practice of sudden checks of the combat readiness of the Armed Forces was resumed, which allows to identify existing problems and eliminate them. In preparing the Russian military, the combat experience gained during the Syrian campaign is actively used. President Vladimir Putin said the practice of sudden inspections of the army and navy will continue. Analysts at the North Atlantic Alliance concluded that Russia is currently the only European country to deploy more than 60 troops in the exercises. At the same time, NATO notes that the member countries of the alliance have largely lost the skill of conducting large-scale military exercises in Europe. Former US commander in Europe Ben Hodges believes that the Kremlin understands only power and appreciates Poland’s preparation for containing Russia by military means:
The Russian army is preparing for both traditional military operations in the format of the exercises "West", "East", "North" and "Center", as well as modern hybrid warfare. A NATO report noted that changes in the level of combat capability of the RF Armed Forces are becoming very noticeable, especially over the past 10 years, but so far the transformations have not yet been completed.
According to NATO experts, the “Olympic war” in South Ossetia in 2008, when it “showed weakness,” became a kind of rubicon for the army of the Russian Federation. According to official figures, then 67 soldiers were lost, 19 of them died as a result of "friendly fire", careless handling of weapons and traffic accidents. The number of wounded Russian soldiers is estimated from 170 to 340 people. In just a few days of the armed conflict, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation lost three Su-25s, two Su-24s, one Tu-22M3, moreover, only two were clearly shot down by the enemy, and three aircraft were shot down by “friendly fire”. Four Su-25s were seriously damaged during the Olympic War, but were able to return to military airfields on their own. Also, the Russian army lost two Mi-24 and Mi-8MTKO helicopters as a result of accidents after the end of hostilities. It is known about the loss of 3 tanks and at least 20 light armored vehicles of the RF Armed Forces in collisions with the Georgian army.
Militarypolitical The Russian leadership made conclusions about the real level of combat readiness of the Armed Forces and began to reform them. Transformations in the Russian army are comparable, according to NATO experts, with the reforms of the USSR army in the 1960-1970s. Well-trained mixed brigades were built by modern standards, the command and control system was updated.
With the advent of Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, the practice of sudden checks of the combat readiness of the Armed Forces was resumed, which allows to identify existing problems and eliminate them. In preparing the Russian military, the combat experience gained during the Syrian campaign is actively used. President Vladimir Putin said the practice of sudden inspections of the army and navy will continue. Analysts at the North Atlantic Alliance concluded that Russia is currently the only European country to deploy more than 60 troops in the exercises. At the same time, NATO notes that the member countries of the alliance have largely lost the skill of conducting large-scale military exercises in Europe. Former US commander in Europe Ben Hodges believes that the Kremlin understands only power and appreciates Poland’s preparation for containing Russia by military means:
We must show Russia that we can move fast or as fast as they do. Then we can have the same relationship with them as during the Cold War.
The Russian army is preparing for both traditional military operations in the format of the exercises "West", "East", "North" and "Center", as well as modern hybrid warfare. A NATO report noted that changes in the level of combat capability of the RF Armed Forces are becoming very noticeable, especially over the past 10 years, but so far the transformations have not yet been completed.
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