The Intelligence from The Economist General disarray: Russia’s military failures
Apr 29, 2022
Joined by Shashank Joshi, defense editor at The Economist, and Piotr Zalewski, the Turkey correspondent, the discussion dives into Russia's unexpected military failures in Ukraine, revealing systemic issues and the sharp contrast in soldier motivation. Joshi breaks down the implications for Russia's global standing, while Zalewski shifts focus to Turkey's political landscape, highlighting the troubling legal case of activist Osman Kavala under President Erdogan. The conversation blends military strategy with pressing human rights concerns.
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Russia's Military Fiasco
- Russia's invasion of Ukraine has been a military fiasco, defying pre-war expectations of a swift victory.
- The Russian military's performance has been surprisingly poor, raising questions about its actual capabilities.
Misjudging Modernization
- Miscalculations about Russian military strength stemmed from observations of their modernization efforts after the 2008 Georgia war.
- Increased military spending and participation in conflicts in Ukraine and Syria led to an overestimation of their capabilities.
Reasons for Poor Performance
- Three potential explanations for Russia's poor military performance include political miscalculations, flawed strategic choices, and systemic corruption.
- Corruption is evident in the use of subpar equipment, impacting the effectiveness of Russian forces.