The Russian army deployed on the Ukrainian front faces serious problems related to age and lack of proper equipment, worrying findings by experts in Russia have revealed. A study of 400 Russian prisoners of war reveals alarming data on the composition of the troops and their preparation for the conflict in Ukraine. Why is the Russian Army being annihilated in the Ukraine? Let’s find out.
Older ages pose a challenge.
The voluntary survey carried out by the Center for Military Means of Ukraine among Russian prisoners of war shows a worrying distribution of ages among the soldiers. The age groups 26-30, 31-35, 36-40 and 41-45 comprise about 17% each of the total sample.
Surprisingly, only 9.7% were between the ages of 18 and 25, while 14.6% were between the ages of 46 and 50. These data indicate that Russian fighters are significantly older than soldiers typically sent into battle by other countries.
Geographic origin and transfer of the weight of the combats
Regarding the geographical origin of the prisoners of war, 21.7% came from the Donetsk province, 22.4% from Luhansk, 50.6% from Russia and only 4.6% from Moscow and its province.
The fact that 44.1% come from the occupied Donbas region suggests that the Kremlin has transferred the weight of the fighting to the separatist entities, known as the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics, thus moving the Russian capital away from the line head-on.
Diversity of occupations within the Russian troops
Regarding the occupations within the captured Russian troops, 16.2% served in the Donetsk people’s militia, 26% in the Luhansk people’s militia, 12.3% in the private military company Wagner Group and 43 .3% in the Russian army.
These figures correlate with the place of residence of the prisoners, which was to be expected.
Negative attitudes towards commanders and poor equipment
The most interesting data centers on the attitudes of prisoners of war toward their commanders. 60% of them evaluated them negatively, and 80% rated the received orders as poor, with 56.9% considering them “absolutely” unacceptable. Furthermore, more than three-quarters claimed to be inadequately equipped.
Reasons behind the poor performance of the Russian Army
These data together suggest the reasons behind the Russian army’s poor performance in the Ukraine conflict. The soldiers, mostly elderly, are not prepared for combat. In addition, their lack of proper equipment and poor leadership contribute to their performance.
A significant proportion of them are former police officers who have experience in riot control but lack the necessary training to deal with war. It is understandable that these soldiers do not feel motivated to risk their lives. It is not surprising, therefore, that 40.1% of those surveyed have surrendered voluntarily.
Low participation of Moscow and protection of the capital
The scant participation of Moscow in the fighting reveals the Kremlin’s desire to protect the capital and its population, thus avoiding the worst ravages of the war.
Moscow and St. Petersburg residents have also suffered proportionately fewer casualties than the outlying provinces of the Russian Federation, which are mostly non-Russian.
Uncertainty about the future of the Russian Army in Ukraine
The question of whether these soldiers will be able to win the war is rhetorical, but the data collected so far raises serious questions about their ability to achieve victory on the Ukrainian front.
The aging of the troops, their lack of preparation and inadequate equipment constitute serious weaknesses that could compromise the success of Russian military operations in the conflict.
Conclusion
The findings about the Russian army in Ukraine are worrying. The aging of the troops, the lack of adequate preparation, and the deficiency in equipment and leadership raise serious questions about Russia’s ability to succeed in the conflict.
The protection of the capital and the transfer of the weight of the fighting to the separatist entities indicate a defensive strategy of the Kremlin. The future of the Russian army in Ukraine is full of uncertainty and challenges.
Frequent questions
1. Why are most of the Russian soldiers in Ukraine elderly?
The composition of the Russian troops in Ukraine reflects a lack of recruitment and mobilization of young soldiers. The data shows that there is a significant proportion of older soldiers compared to other armies sent into combat.
2. How does the lack of proper equipment affect the performance of Russian soldiers?
The lack of adequate equipment limits soldiers’ ability to effectively face the conflicts’ demands. Without the necessary equipment, they are exposed to greater risks and their effectiveness on the battlefield is compromised.
3. What role do commanders play in the poor performance of the Russian army?
Surveyed Russian soldiers expressed negative attitudes towards their commanders and viewed the orders received as substandard. Inadequate leadership can negatively affect the morale and effectiveness of troops in combat.
4. Why is Moscow’s participation in the fighting limited?
The Kremlin shows a clear intention to protect the capital and prevent significant damage to Moscow. This is reflected in the transfer of the weight of the fighting to the separatist entities in the occupied region of Donbas.
5. What are the most prominent weaknesses of the Russian army in the Ukraine conflict?
The aging of the troops, the lack of adequate preparation and inadequate equipment are the main weaknesses identified in the Russian army in the Ukraine conflict. These factors may compromise the success of Russian military operations in the conflict.
