Why Russia's efforts to replenish its depleted armed forces may not matter much in Ukraine
Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree last week expanding the size of Russia's armed forces by about 137,000 active-duty members, bringing the total force to 1.15 million, as soon as January — but that move "is unlikely to significantly alter the country's fortunes in its war in Ukraine," The New York Times reports, citing American and British officials and independent military analysts.
Whether Russia tries to meet these targets through recruiting "contract" volunteers or conscription, Putin's decree "is unlikely to make substantive progress towards increasing Russia's combat power in Ukraine," Britain's Ministry of Defense assessed Sunday. "This is because Russia has lost tens of thousands of troops; very few new contract servicemen are being recruited; and conscripts are technically not obliged to serve outside of Russian territory."
Among Russia's estimated 80,000 Ukraine casualties are military trainers and officers, meaning even if Russia can attract many recruits, it could struggle to prepare them for combat.
All of this suggests suggests Putin is flailing in Ukraine, former NATO supreme allied commander Adm. James Stavridis and former U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul told NBC's Meet the Press on Sunday.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/why-russias-efforts-replenish-depleted-061409699.html
Heckuva job Pooty Poot.
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