Originally Posted by
EddyCurr
Several posts in this thread, elsewhere on the forum and in other spheres express opinions gloating about failures on Russia's side.
I venture to say that it is a VAST miscalculation to conclude that after a mere 35 days (April 3 - Feb 28, 2022), Vlad has shot his bolt.
Underestimate him and his people at your peril.
What would suggest Putin still has in his armoury to counter any apparent underestimation of he and/or the Russian military?
Aside from the nuclear option (which, let's be frank, isn't an option as Putin doesn't get to actually "push the button", just order someone else to order someone else to) what has he got in his toy box that would worry anyone with effective counter air and counter battery assets?
What combat experience has the Russian military had since WW2 to mould their doctrine? Their experience has mainly been either putting down civilian uprisings or asymmetric warfare, in both cases relying upon overwhelming numbers to try and pacify a numerically and technologically inferior enemy.
The tactics they are utilising in Ukraine hark back to WW2 and, other than their 'prowess' at reducing civilian population centres to rubble (never a good way to win hearts and minds), they have been found wanting against an enemy who are benefitting from the technology and advice from countries with far more breadth of combat experience than Russia.