Additional Coverage:
- Ukraine war analyst says Russia keeps surprising him with just how bad its soldiers are: ‘The bar is very, very low’ (newsbreak.com)
Russian soldiers in Ukraine have exhibited surprisingly low levels of training. Experts have noted a steady decline in the quality of recruits as the war progresses.
Despite being overwhelmed by Ukraine’s defense and lacking proper training, Russia has relied on sheer numbers to attempt to overwhelm Ukrainian forces. However, the high casualty rate is straining Russia’s ability to sustain losses.
While Russia’s tactics involve sending waves of untrained soldiers forward, it faces challenges in replenishing its forces. The Kremlin has not declared a mass mobilization, and its pool of recruits is limited to prisoners, foreign volunteers, and reservists.
The lack of skilled soldiers has led Russia to use brutal "meat wave" tactics, but this approach is unsustainable. Experts believe Russia’s reserves may be more depleted than previously thought, limiting its ability to respond effectively to Ukrainian attacks.