Posted on 06/14/2023 9:56:45 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
This seems to be an increasingly common theme on a global scale. We are continually warned that the United States is running low on arms and munitions and may not be prepared to supply Taiwan if China invades. We are similarly assured that we need to continue spending vast amounts of money we don’t have to arm Ukraine or they will likewise run low and be unable to fend off the Russians. But now their enemy in that conflict is making an identical claim. Vladimir Putin told a group of pro-war bloggers this week that his country is running very low on offensive weapons in general and military drones in particular. And if that shortage isn’t addressed soon, he may be unable to “win the special military operation” in Ukraine. So are these just scare tactics or has the war actually drained the Russian military to dangerous levels? (Politico)
Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that his armed forces lack the military hardware they need to win the war in Ukraine, while insisting Moscow is ramping up weapons production to fill the gap.
Speaking Tuesday at a meeting of pro-war bloggers in the Kremlin, Putin acknowledged that “during the course of the special military operation, it has become clear there are shortages of many things — precision-guided munitions, communications equipment, aircraft, drones and so on.”
“We have them, but unfortunately we don’t have enough of them,” he said, according to state media. As well as drones, “modern anti-tank weapons are needed, and modern tanks are needed.”
I suppose this is a credible claim. The war in Ukraine has been bleeding the global supply of missiles and other ammunition severely and that would have to impact Russia sooner or later as well. We had already seen reports suggesting that the Russian military was running short of precision-guided munitions, forcing them to use older, cruder firepower. That’s something of a double-edged sword because, on the one hand, it means that they are less able to hit strategic targets. But it also means that they’re misfiring and hitting more civilian neighborhoods, hospitals and churches.
One report from more than a month ago claimed that Russia’s ability to produce advanced weaponry domestically was being hampered by sanctions. They’ve been largely unable to import certain high-tech components required for controlled navigation systems among other things. And they don’t produce those components in their own country.
The subject of combat drones is another matter, however. We’ve known for months that Iran has been sending combat drones to Moscow. And we just learned this week that Tehran is helping the Russians build their own drone factory near Moscow. So, unfortunately, if Putin truly is experiencing a shortage of drones, it may only be a temporary situation.
Meanwhile, Ukraine also continues to complain it’s continually running low on munitions. Last month, the EU committed to shipping one million rounds of ammunition to Ukraine, but it doesn’t sound like much of that has arrived yet. Last week, Joe Biden predictably promised another $300 million in military aid as well. But it’s not just a question of money, which Biden apparently believes we can continue to endlessly pluck off of the magical cash tree in the Rose Garden with no consequences. There has to be someone making the munitions so they will be available to purchase. And the global marketplace still hasn’t managed to catch up.
Returning to the drone question for a moment, this is yet another reminder of how this era of stunning technological innovations may not work out brilliantly in all situations. As we pack even more artificial intelligence into drones and other machines, we’re reaching the point where we’re going to be letting our robots do our fighting for us. And having robots fight each other doesn’t bring about the end of a war, so they’ll likely be attacking civilian targets in larger numbers. This doesn’t bode well for the future of our military.
And besides: It's not as though he were being forced to conduct an actual war. Rather, this is merely a "Special Military Operation," now well into its second year, with over 12,000 dead Russian troops. Russia's economy is nearly ONE-TWELFTH the size of America's - so the Russians should be able to swiftly replenish their arsenals!
Regards,
RE: now well into its second year, with over 12,000 dead Russian troops.
The dead Russian soldiers numbers are all over the place. Your estimate of 12,000 is definitely the lowest I have read yet. Some reports actually estimate the dead Russian soldiers to have exceeded 100,000.
Figure struck me as low, too. Was in a hurry, so consulted ChatGPT, and then decided to err on the conservative side so took its estimate. Am more than willing to substitute any other plausible figure you might come up with! (BTW: The corresponding figures for Ukrainian military casualties were likewise very low.)
Regards,
Yes, probably attempting to lull us into a false sense of security before he pulls another boner and sends another tank column to its doom towards Kyev dreams up another brilliant tactical stroke.
Fifth-dimensional chess!
Regards,
... said the spider to the fly.
If you dig into this article a little more you’ll see the entire interview was over 3.5 hours long which is amazing considering Putin is nearly dead from all the cancers he’s suffering from even more amazing is a guy known for soiling himself can sit for over three hours and still not have a pants load of crap
/sarcasm for those wearing panties to tight
That is some deep thoughts there.
I have always felt that any protracted war of attrition between “real” armies will evenually turn into WWI when both sides runs out of high tech weapons.
I was startled a bit when the first Russians I met in the mid 90s informed me that their military loses 50,000 men a year. This was during peace time. Was not a secret to them. Also they got oil from Iran ignoring all sanctions that they supposedly agreed to observe.
“Putin: We’re running out of weapons too”
But the Neocons, in their ever-increasing BRILLIANCE regarding Taiwan, made sure to have Russia become allies with the world’s LARGEST MANUFACTURER, by far, which of course is China*. So, should Russia need some more weapons, China will be there to help them.
As for the west, we’re still working on how to integrate their Drag Queens into our manufacturing base, so it will be a very long time before we get stepped up production.
*for the life of me, I cannot figure out why the Neocons considered it a good idea to push Russia and China together - are they REALLY that stupid...perhaps someone else may know?
“The art of deception.”
Agree - don’t forget, Putin also said he wasn’t going to invade Ukraine...36 hours or so later, the games started, with Ukraine caught totally flat-footed.
"Kim Dotcom Retweeted Senator Dick Black @SenRichardBlack
Ukraine's offensive hit a steel wall. 7,000 KIA, 160 tanks and 360 armored vehicles destroyed in just one week with trivial gains.
It is a pointless bloodbath. Charred Leopard tanks and Bradley vehicles lie everywhere.
Telling Ukraine to fight "for as long as it takes" is inhuman. End this tragic war now.
7:34 AM • Jun 14, 2023 • 351K Views"
The Chinese have plenty of weapons. And, they’re writing up a contract, even as we speak. You’ll have an endless supply of weapons...as long as you give China the Kamchatka Peninsula.
“The photographs of wrecked Bradleys and Leopard IIs piled on top of each other can’t be denied. “
You would think with the constant recycling of that hit equipment that it represented the totatality of the Ukie Army and the offensive..But when you have nothing else to brag about I guess it will have to do...
Meanwhile Ukraine continues to advance as they “lose”....
Nah your just afraid that the offensive is actually progressing and Putin may lose his ill gotten gains...
Well, just damn, Putie. Stop the war.
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