Russian Army Takes On-the-Job Training to a New Level

The ass-kicking Ukraine is giving Russia becomes the best strategy for training the troops

Russia has finally reached a critical point. It has dramatically slowed the rate at which it is firing missiles and appears to be stockpiling for a winter offensive. There is also speculation that Russia has begun “ training” its troops.

A report published by The Wall Street Journal on Wednesday claimed that Russian government officials had contacted allies to ask for the return of some military equipment and weapons that it had previously exported, possibly indicating that supplies for the Ukraine war are dwindling (Russia Switching War Strategy).

It has taken the enemy a while to catch on to the tactics of a modern army, but some suspect that the lull in air raids could signal a change in strategy. Across the lines from Russia’s conscripted army is one that is probably even less experienced than the Russians were in terms of military doctrine, and nonetheless, the Ukrainians have month-by-month acquired a deadly efficiency that has resulted in hundreds of thousands of dead and wounded Russians.

Russia’s failure to prepare its troops, however, has not been due to a lack of effort. After conscripting hundreds of thousands of civilians from society, it sent the green troops, many without even a week’s training and void of the most essential gear, to the 600-mile front. The rate of death was so great that Russia resorted to a form of “training” that served them well in the past. Situated just behind the front line, the great minds of the Russian general staff set up second and third “front lines” (barrier troops) designed to prevent the retreat of their green, unsupplied troops.

How many Russians were murdered by their fellow citizens as they retreated to the rear, no one will ever know. But the “training tactic” seems to have worked, and the fear of death due to “friendly fire” helped stabilize the lines for a while. Discipline, however, began to break down after months of being traumatized by the daily din of war. The once-green civilians started to rebel. They began to fight back against their incompetent officers in small ways.