John Kirby, the coordinator of the National Security Council at the White House, highlighted this week the impact of the war in Ukraine on Russia’s military capabilities, pointing to its lower standards.
“We are aware that this conflict has adversely affected Putin’s military capabilities, especially in terms of munitions, artillery, aircraft, and missiles,” Kirby said.
He noted that while Russia was looking for assistance from other nations, including Iran and North Korea, it still maintained significant air, mechanized, and naval capabilities. However, the official said the Russian Black Sea Fleet had suffered “notable losses”, though it remained capable of causing substantial damage.
“Russia holds a manpower advantage due to its large population and size. Unlike President Zelenskyy, President Putin doesn’t face the same challenges in mobilizing forces, allowing him to deploy more personnel to the front lines,” Kirby explained.
Kirby also identified several weaknesses within the Russian military, including poor management, low morale, and a lack of effective leadership, making Russia vulnerable.
“Russia tends to prefer long-range missiles and artillery in warfare. While this strategy provides them a significant advantage, Russian ground forces often struggle in direct engagements with Ukrainian forces,” he said.
Kirby asserted the Russian counteroffensive had faltered, adding “this is an army that, even after two years of conflict, has not absorbed the lessons required for a modern military”.
