War has its own dynamics. And the ability of armies to adapt is at the heart of this dynamic.. World War I generals were ridiculed for their lack of imagination. But it took time to turn the army of citizens into an integrated military force, which in 1918 was able to successfully carry out the Hundred Days Offensive..
Ukraine and Russia face a similar challenge now. The one who can adapt and change his army faster and better will win, writes the former Chief of the General Staff of the British Armed Forces, General Richard Dannatt, in an article for The Telegraph.. He explains that for Vladimir Putin and his general, Sergei Surovikin, the challenge is to create a new force that can go on the offensive in the spring.. But for this they lack many key components.. Mobilized Russians are not motivated, and Moscow also lacks low-level commanders. There is no tradition of non-commissioned officers in the Soviet and Russian military system. Although it plays the role of the main support of most Western armies, including the British.
No less bitter for Surovikin will be the realization that corruption in the Russian military procurement process has amassed weapons of inferior quality than those used by NATO and the West..
“All this and more will lead to the formation of a cumbersome force that will again rely on mass and blunt artillery. Stalin once joked that quantity can turn into quality.. But in Ukraine, this assertion is likely to lead to the death of a very large number of young Russians, reluctantly disguised as soldiers,” writes General Dannatt..
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President Volodymyr Zelensky and General Valery Zaluzhny are faced with a mirror task to create funds for a decisive campaign. And the chances are still on their side, but success is not guaranteed..
“Yes, uniformed and ununiformed Ukrainians demonstrate extreme determination to win the war and preserve the way of life they have chosen.. And they receive significant support from the West for this.. But this support is not enough, ”said the British military.
After the annexation of Crimea in 2014, the West, in particular the UK, conducted training for the Ukrainian military, helping to start a transformational process that accelerated greatly after Russia launched its invasion on February 24. So far, Western support, encouraged by the British and provided mostly by the Americans, has given Ukraine the means to avoid being defeated in the war.. Donated Javelin and NLAW MANPADS helped suppress the initial attack. Starlink satellite Internet has changed the Ukrainian system of command and control. And HIMARS long-range artillery systems smashed Russian logistics. But only now the West is beginning to hear Ukrainian requests for offensive weapons..
“France is going to transfer light “tanks” AMX-10. The US is donating 50 Bradley IFVs, and Germany will donate most of its stocks of Marder IFVs. A Britain? The main fan seems to have lost his voice, ”the British general ironically.
Why Britain cannot follow in the footsteps of its American, French and German allies and also offer modern land capabilities?
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" Years of underfunded British Army come into focus here. CVR(T) combat vehicles were developed back in the 1970s and have no place on the modern mobile battlefield, as well as armored patrol vehicles purchased for counter-guerrilla campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan,” writes General Dannatt.
He adds that British Challenger tanks are in dire need of an upgrade, as is the Warrior IFV.. However, in the case of the second of these machines, it was decided that it would be too expensive to upgrade them.. Therefore, the Warrior BMP will be removed from service. BMP Ajax not working. Boxer armored personnel carriers have not yet been delivered to the British Army.
" If we are going to write them off ahead of time, wouldn't it be better to give them to Ukrainians "
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The UK Army has been training in Poland for years. And she has good experience in transferring armored vehicles to Polish territory.. Trainers can teach Ukrainian infantrymen how to use it.
“Let’s let Ukraine get some use out of these cars before we send them to the landfill.”. Delays pose a risk of defeat. Before that, we helped Ukraine not to lose in the war with Putin. Now we must help her win,” the article says..