Can you explain Russian military failure in Ukraine?

[Drewtate]

Forced to retreat & dig in?

Russian army regular & special forces decimated?

Desperately conscripting hundreds of thousands of Russian civilians to make up for loses?

Columns of tanks & Russian armor obliterated?

Russian soldiers being armed with WW1 era weapons?

Russian airforce missing in action over Ukraine?

Russian army forced to use inaccurate WW1 style artillery barages?

1950s tanks being brought out of mothballs?

Russian flagship sunk. The first sinking of a capital ship since the Falklands war?

Russian troops using 1950s helmets and cardboard body armor cowering & starving in freezing trenches?

Major logistics shortages?

Russian mercenaries mutinying & marching on Moscow?

Updates

+1 y

Another Ukrainian victory as Russia lose an A-50 AWACS aircraft. This leaves then with only 9 left. Another has been deployed much further away so we will see if the Ukrainians can neutralise it too.

[Zestyassmf1997]

Man portable anti tank weapons are a game changer. Soviet/Russian doctrine was built heavily around enormous armored thrusts that were based on experiences during WW2. The thing is that WW2 didn’t have TOW/Konkurs missiles, or AT4s, or Javelins. The history of warfare is a competition between attack and defense. In WW1, defense was superior until tanks appeared. In WW2, offense reigned supreme. Now we’re back to defense. Furthermore, Russia’s military history has seldom ever been a story of lightning quick victories. Usually they get their asses beat until they finally stop goofing off and decide to fight back. If you’re more conspiracy minded then the theory is that they’re literally just sitting in trenches killing hundreds of Ukrainians daily, and sustaining light losses in return. But that’s up to you whether or not you wanna believe it.

[Drewtate]

They've been forced on the defensive as its really all they can do. Soviet anti-air missiles and anti tank missiles in the Vietnam war and Yom kippur war basically was the catalyst for NATO doctrine changing which is why we have big battle beasts like M1 Abrahams and stealth aircraft. The Russians aren't able to conduct combined arms attacks because their aircraft are shot out of the sky by anti air missiles and tanks hit by anti tank missiles. If that was NATO stealth aircraft would have neutralised any radar and anti air missiles, decimated armour columns and been supporting infantry and armor advancing. Granted the M1 Abrahams is outdated and in need of massive upgrade with the latest tech but again it's not based on a design from the 1960s, imagine the US military was still operating the Patton M60 tank.
In saying all that I don't believe the Ukrainians will be able to force Russia out of crjmea or donbass.

[Zestyassmf1997]

To be fair, our stealth aircraft and tanks have really very little testing. In fact, I’m pretty sure the F35 project has almost been scrapped, and realistically, our tanks probably aren’t any better than Leopards. “If that was US/NATO…” well, we’ll never really know because the US and NATO usually just blow up some literal 3rd world country that has NO air defense or air force at all. Keep in mind that Russian/Soviet tanks were designed around totally different principles than our tanks. They blow up easy, sure. But have you compared the tanks’ weight and top speeds? Russian tanks are way lighter and faster. Probably cheaper to mass produce too. As for how the war will end? Who knows? And frankly, I don’t really care. Wish we’d quit spending money we don’t have to prop up Ukraine, though.

[Drewtate]

We've been operating stealth aircraft since the late 80s. In the Gulf War and Kosovo conflict the F117 was sent to destroy radar and SAM sites so that UN & NATO aircraft could operate without getting shot down. We saw what happened to retreating iraqi tanks on the highway of death where they were decimated by apaches& A10s.
Mass production is good but if they are easily picked off its a wasted effort. Just look at the British made tanks in North Africa during WW2, they out numbered the German tanks 10-1 and it didn't matter.

[Zestyassmf1997]

The British won in North Africa. Mass production is a HUGE deal in serious ground wars. That’s why France’s levee en masse was such a big deal during the Napoleonic wars. All those scenarios you’re describing are countries that had no meaningful air defense or air force. Also, I think we lost an F117 over Serbia anyway. Our equipment isn’t all it’s cooked up to be. That’s just propaganda. The, “other side” has teams of equally clever technicians also working around the clock. That’s not to say our equipment is bad. But…don’t buy into the idea that we’re invincible.

[Drewtate]

The British won in North Africa because they were given a quality mass produced tank superior to anything they had.
Iraq & Serbia had the latest air defence technology in 1991. As well as some of the best cold war era fighter jets.
The Serbians got lucky. They were turning their radars on for a few and off. They managed to catch an F117 with its bomb bay doors open. It's not that stealth makes the US airforce invincible, it means the enemy just can't detect a stealth plane until its too late. Statistically a few f117 were bound to be lost. Ukraine is showing the Russians what the USAF& Navy knew as far back as the Vietnam war, that a non stealth fighter can't operate & survive in enemy territory while the enemy radar & SAM are operational.
Fact is that the Russians are 30-40 years behind current US military equipment and the us is about to leapfrog them again.

[Zestyassmf1997]

Iraq? Yugoslavia? Latest? I’m afraid not. By and large, the Iraqis didn’t even resist. F117 an accident? Also afraid not. I’m telling you, this notion that we’re like…the best and strongest and most awesomest ever is not a good mindset to have. Underestimating your opponent is a pathway to catastrophe. “We’ll be in Moscow by Christmas.” - someone who got turned into a red ice cube on the endless plains of Russia.

[Drewtate]

In 1991 the Iraqis were forced out Kuwait in the Gulf War. They weren't given a chance to resist and they very much did resist.
At the end of the day the proof is in the pudding.
The Russian operation barbarossa style invasion of Ukraine has turned into a catastrophe for them.

[Zestyassmf1997]

It’ll turn into a catastrophe for whoever actually loses. Also, regarding North Africa, German losses in manpower and materiel at El Alamein 2 were to blame. They couldn’t replenish those losses because of Royal Naval dominance in the Med. German tanks were pound for pound better. But their logistical footprints were enormous, and were totally not compatible with Germany’s insufficient industrial base.

[Drewtate]

This was true about the allies cutting German logistics in North Africa. But they won massive victories with few tanks and few men, the real problem was Rommel's sheer ignorance of logistics. British tanks were comparable to German tanks in terms of armor but a combination of British commanders not knowing how to use tanks, few tank transports meaning British tanks had to drive hundreds or thousands of miles through the desert, poor maintenance, poor quality mechanically and poor technical support. The big problem with British tanks was they had a light short range gun on them that could fire only armor piercing rounds with which they could never get close enough to take out a German tank with and was ineffective at taking out German anti tank guns and the Germans of course using the 88 anti tank gun which decimated British tanks and then the German tanks advanced after all the British tanks had been taken out at range.
Germans industrial base was never going to be able to match the British or the Americans for that matter but in 1939 the German economy was going to collapse which was why they gambled on invading Poland, similar story with the invasion of the Soviet Union.

[Zestyassmf1997]

It wasn’t ignorance. He was dealt a hand and played it to the best of his abilities. They then put the guy in charge of the Atlantic Wall, which he immediately recognized as a total basket case.

[Drewtate]

No Rommel pushed for attacking the British in Libya and Egypt rather than securing German supply lines or just holding ground against the British. He'd attack, run out of supplies and be forced to retreat taking heavy loses. They should have taken Malta, taken Gibraltar and pushed the vichy French to allow then to use Algeria earlier in the war as a way of closing down British shipping through the straits of Gibraltar into the Mediterranean and securing British shipping.
upload.wikimedia.org/.../...ltar%2C_April_2023.jpg

[Zestyassmf1997]

Secure them how? The Royal navy was already dominating the Mediterranean. You can’t just take Malta and Gibraltar without control of surrounding waters to begin with. The Vichy French were likely to just sabotage their own stuff and/or defect if pushed by the Germans. The Africa Corps was screwed from the get-go. Especially after the Italian fleet got wiped out.

[Drewtate]

The Royal Navy wasn't able to save Crete or Norway despite dominating the sea. When they tried they lost a lot of ships and were forced to retreat. The Vichy French were allowed a government as a gift from the Germans, they would have fought if the Germans threatened to take the rest of France or at least allowed military access for the luftwaffe and german Navy. Early in the war in Mediterranean the Royal Navy took some heavy losses.

[Zestyassmf1997]

Yeah, but even with those losses, the Royal Navy dwarfed the German surface fleet, and probably the Italian navy too. Crete was a loss because of where it was located, and Norway was a loss because the British acted way too late.

[Drewtate]

Crete was a loss because the Royal Navy had no air support and the outnumbered British army were defeated by a smaller German force.
Norway was a loss because the British and French were slow to act but the Royal Navy still failed to blockade norway.
The Royal Navy was spread out all over the Atlantic.

[Zestyassmf1997]

I’m too drunk to continue this. But you’re clearly as informed as you are opinionated, so even if I don’t agree with you on everything…you’re alright.

[RebelinSteel]

Training, corruption and lies and logistics. The Ukrainians are trained to UK and NATO battle skills which revolve around small unit tactics, the Russians do not trust its NCO’s and put in officers at a level others have Corporals or similar. That removes a lot of flexibility. When the Russians requested replacement T72 etc engines, the entire stock was missing, sold by those who were responsible, also other kit. Their battle field radios suck big time, no agile anti jam facilities, lack of Elint. They lie to their troops and do not give them information required for a mission. Russian logistics are like WW1 level of rubbish. There is more, once they are defeated a lot of books will get written on it all.

[Drewtate]

I remember the tyre fiasco. Tyres on Russian vehicles had worn out only a month in. The good standard Russian tyres had been mysteriously replaced with cheap inferior Chinese tyres. Also fuel supplies mysteriously missing along with ammunition etc. At this stage they are having to buy back all those aks sold to the third world by greedy generals in the 90s &00s.

[milyjohn]

https://www.youtube.com/embed/VfaCc1feMaM

Who is the guy on the left while the air raid sirens are going off? Rambo?

I don't know what's going on with that war, but even on day one something didn't feel right.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/steA_PZPkc8

[Veles]

Can you explain Ukraine's military failure despite NATO and US aid?

[strateguy632]

failure? they successfully defended ukraine capital against a more powerful numerous army.

[Veles]

@strateguy632 Friendly reminder for dummies: The conflict is in the eastern part of Ukraine where the Russians are concentrating their forces, not Kiev streets.

[Drewtate]

A reminder for dummies is that the conflict is happening in the east because the Russians were defeated and forced to retreat

[Veles]

@drewtate RU-UA tension has been about eastern Ukraine for the last eight years, you might want to get your head out of your ass and see the facts.

[Drewtate]

Yes and Russia retreated back to donbass after their failed invasion of Ukraine

[Veles]

@drewtate lol, ok schizo.

[Drewtate]

Yes retreat just like the Russians

[KrakenAttackin]

I studied the Russian/Soviet forces for years. Back in the day we took their forces at face value and were genuinely shit scared of their mechanized "OMG's" (Operational Maneuvering Groups), which were huge masses of armor. We also shuddered at their sheer willingness to endure casualties without remorse. Additionally, in an effort to be conservative, we seriously overestimated their strategic weapons accuracy, and delivery systems capabilities. We treated force analysis the way we would look at our own forces.

I think we seriously underestimated the deleterious effects of Communism on the human psyche AND the fantastic corruption Communism breeds (of course Capitalism has its issues as well).

Additionally, there is an excellent documentary about the Russian military spend and how it's all tooth and no tail. If you cannot support weapons systems and troops, you cannot field them. This is what the Russians are learning.

[Drewtate]

Ukraine has really shown Russia to be a paper tiger. Seems they've lost a lot of their best regular troops and special forces.
Even without the corruption. Just on the corruption, there's supposed to be out of the 500 million firearms worldwide 100 million are supposed to be AKs yet the Russians struggle to arm their troops, probably because the stores of weapons and ammunition have been sold on and exist only on paper. New Tyres on trucks wearing on trucks wearing out because the standard military tyres had been replaced with cheap Chinese ones.

[jshm2]

You mean Ukrainian failures.

This is Russia vs the world via Ukraine.

Russia has kept up despite Western embargoes, sanctions and sabotage. Where Ukraine is getting billions a day in cash, military hardware and assistance, but just pissed it up a wall.

The funny thing is that Ukraine is going to have to pay it all back to the West, with interest, for generations, if it wins. But things will go back to the way they were before Zelensky sold out to the West, if they lose.

[ScienceThumper]

Can you think of a faster way to establish a power differential for the illuminati trannies to own humanity?

[Jersey2]

For Russia: Bad commanders, bad logistics, bad morale, bad communication with troops, bad training, bad preparation, bad equipment.

For Ukraine: Excellent morale especially in the beginning, a will to fight, quick action in the first weeks of battle, the advantage of being on the defense, quick access to anti-tank weapons like the Javelin. Access to modern intelligence from the US/Nato and spy satellites, access to warfare experts in Nato, access to Starlink communications systems, access to munitions and new artillery systems, access to advanced anti-air systems such as the Patriot, access to a friendly boarder with Nato for supplies, repairs and an exit for refugees. Their own ingenuity in developing weapons and tactics such as drone ships/drones to attack tanks and troops, drone surveillance, anti-ship missiles and more. And most of all, bravery in the face of an onslaught.

[Anpu23]

Sun Tzu in the art of war said he who knows himself will win half of the battles
He who knows his enemy will win half of the battles
He who knows both will win everything under heaven

Putin underestimated his enemy, over estimated his fighting ability and predictably got himself in trouble. He also assumed that the people of Ukraine would support his liberation attempts and he'd have internal help.

[Drewtate]

https://youtu.be/3uvAPL5596g?si=YE8Bf8VK1hJLZo0t

[Dargil]

Pour morale and inadequate training. Unlike the Cold war, their military force is no longer love their country. They just feel that they're being used as Patsy's. During the Cold war, the Russians remembered the Holocaust of the second world war and were motivated to fight.

[Drewtate]

The difference was the Russians in WW2 were fighting for their country and against total annilation so were willing to take huge losses. In WW2 the Soviets had to call on nationalism which was against what communism stood for to get the Soviet soldier to fight, as well as stopping the secret police machine gunning retreating soldiers. Now in Ukraine they aren't fighting for anything really except Putin saving face after his massive blunder.

[love_conquers_lust]

They don't know how to fight urban warfare. Their officers are leading like they're trench soldiers and dying. Their supply lines can't keep up. Their equipment is obsolete. They're still fighting like it's total war, open field battle. They're inefficient as hell.

There's going to be a whole 'nother generation of lonely Russian women because of this. I think it's time they woke up and stand against this. I think this is going to have a backlash for that country. Watch them do a 180 and become one of the most capitalist countries in the world. They're sitting on an ocean of oil and are primed for it.

Imagine having allies in the East that weren't East or South Asian.

[integrale77]

Because Putin is that deluded he believes his own propaganda.

He thought he was going to walk in and they would lay down arms and be willing to join Russia. Reality is they are dedicated to there own country and even oap's are willing to kick soldiers out of there towns and villages.

It will all end when someone in Russia has the balls to off Putin in secret... of course all we will know is he's dissapeared and no one will say any more about it. Then someone will just slip into his role without any official announcement.

[strateguy632]

the ammunition issue might be storage, instead of storing old bullets and artilery shells USE them while building up the new stuff, if so they give the old rifles to shoot the old bullets and use up the boxes instead of store same for old cannon and artilery. just to empty the storage.

but the jets and tanks something is weird they must have lost far more than we can prove.

[genericname85]

hat failure? you think russia is loosing? lol

[Drewtate]

They already lost. Forced to retreat and dig in around dumbass

[genericname85]

The war is still going on my dude. The media are just focusing on Israel now, cause now the reality doesn't fit the American propaganda about Ukraine winning anymore.

[genericname85]

To think Ukraine could win is madness. That's like thinking Taiwan could beat china.

[Drewtate]

What has Russia won?

[genericname85]

the crimea, which is the most important strategical point for russia. plus the entire east side of the country.

[genericname85]

and that despite basically the entirety of Europe and the USA supporting the shit out of ukraine.

[Drewtate]

They already had crimea and donbass were pushed out of Ukraine in a war that's costing then blood and treasure they can't afford.
They wanted to stop Ukraine from joining the EU and Nato but that's going to happen. They also wanted to intimidate their neighbours from joining nato but it's done the opposite.
They've shown the rest of the world how weak the Russian military really is.
The Russian war in Ukraine is a failure.

[genericname85]

considering russia is effectively fighting the usa and Europe, they should not have gained a millimeter of land. and the war is going on. they are not losing at all.

[Drewtate]

If Russia was fighting the us the war would be over by now with the complete destruction of the Russian army in the field as it is Russia was unable to successfully invade a country on its boarder. Poland on its own could probably defeat Russia

[Exterminatore]

I think the Ukrainian forces are being beat. I don’t trust much of what the MSM is saying about this war.

[Drewtate]

I believe its a stalemate

[Exterminatore]

It’s hard to say.

[Drewtate]

Well Russia has been forced to retreat and dig in on the defensive and the Ukrainians csnt break their defences

[zagor]

Russian oligarchs pocketing defense spending. And corruption all the way down the pipe.

[Anonymous]

Your nut-huggery for Ukraine is only surpassed by your ignorance of the war.

[Drewtate]

You can win a war in retreat.

[Roudyrebel8]

Gods will