Replies

You are correct. Most of Russia's best weapons depend on specific military grade components and subsystems made in Europe or the US that are now unavailable due to sanctions. Replacements might be found, but they are usually inferior and take time to effect any redesign and to integrate them into the production process. As a result, the Russians have been forced into the expedient of refurbishing old, obsolete, inferior weapons and equipment and sending them into battle.

The larger problem though is that Russia's state finances and foreign currency reserves are running down at a rate that will become critical by the middle of next year. Even before then, sanctions and war mobilization have led to a painful weakening of the Russian economy that is compounding in its effects. It is quite possible that Putin may be ousted or Russia defeated because of sanctions even though it still holds large chunks of Ukraine.