A number of military experts have lambasted Russia’s tactics so far in their invasion of Ukraine, pointing out how Kyiv has been “humiliating” the Kremlin for weeks
A Ukrainian serviceman looks on as he stands in front of a burning warehouse after shelling in Kyiv on March 17 (
Image: AFP via Getty Images)
The Ukraine army is “humiliating” Russia on the battlefield, with the Kremlin and Vladimir Putin “making almost every single tactical mistake”, a UK military expert has said.
Professor Michael Clarke, a former director of the Royal United Services (RUSI) think tank highlighted the catalogue of mistakes Russian forces have and continue to make during their invasion of Ukraine.
Such was the poor state of affairs of the Russian side that he said they were “making almost every tactical mistake it is possible to make”.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, he said: “They [Russian troops] look like forces that were completely unprepared, that hadn’t thought through what a major campaign might look like.
“The Ukrainians are stalling the Russian advance in all areas and even operating now quite effective counter attacks. The Russians are losing a lot of equipment and troops.”
This comes as the latest Ministry of Defence intelligence update said that the Kremlin’s forces had made “minimal progress this week”.
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Michael Clarke, Director-General of the Royal United Services Institute
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It added: “Ukrainian forces around Kyiv and Mykolaiv continue to frustrate Russian attempts to encircle the city.
It added that the cities of Kharkiv, Chernihiv, Sumy and Mariupol remained surrounded and subject to relentless Russian aerial attacks.
Prof Clarke said that Ukraine has a “NATO standard” battlefield command and control system, built with help from NATO countries since 2014.
He added that an attack on a plane maintenance plant in Lviv this proved Russia was now trying to weaken Ukraine’s aerial ability.
Ukrainian service members are seen at their positions, in Kyiv
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This comes after weeks of failure from Russia to seize control of the skies and Ukraine calling for a ‘No Fly Zone’ to be introduced by western nations.
Striking the western city just 70km from the Polish border was also “an attempt to frighten the west out of helping Ukrainians as much as they have been”, he added.
Former Deputy Supreme Allied Commander of NATO, General Sir Richard Shirreff said Russian forces had shown “extraordinary incompetence” during their stuttering invasion of Ukraine.
Talking to Sky News, he said that the amazing “lack of professionalism” was partly because “amateurs talk tactics, and professionals talk logistics”.
Former Deputy Supreme Allied Commander of NATO, General Sir Richard Shirreff
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Aldershot News and Mail)
He said that Russian troops morale was “absolutely rock bottom”, adding: “They were expected to be greeted by flag-waving crowds and they have been greeted by ferocious defence.
“Putin cannot accept defeat and therefore in typical KGB style if he is facing trouble in one direction, he could cause even greater trouble in another.”
Because of this the former commander warned that Putin could turn to extreme measures to try and change his fortunes.
He said: “We should be on our guard to chemical attack, quite potentially the use of tactical nuclear.”
Mother of major Ivan Skrypnyk, who was killed during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, mourns over his flag-draped coffin during a funeral ceremony at Lychakiv cemetery in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv
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He warned that a ramp-up in forces could very easily lead to a general war that spilled beyond the Ukrainian border and “could easily go nuclear”.
He added “we can take nothing for granted” and a ramp-up of forces would lead to a “general war that could easily go nuclear”.
Western intelligence sources reportedly said that Russia had intended to take Ukraine in a ‘lightning invasion’.
This would have, in theory, seen them race across the country in a matter of days, seizing cities and urban centres before taking the capital and replacing the government with a puppet.
Fire burns at the Barabashova market, in Kharkiv
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Image:
REUTERS)
Instead, Russia now finds themselves negotiating peace terms with Volodymyr Zelensky and his administration.
According to recent reports from the Financial Times, a tentative 15-point peace plan has been outlined which could see Russian forces withdraw from Ukraine.
Reportedly, it would be conditional on Kyiv accepting neutrality and curbs on its armed forces.
Citing three sources familiar with the talks, the Financial Times said Zelensky would have to give up his bid to join NATO, something the president has already hinted at.
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