The Russian General Staff is looking for new ways to increase the combat capability of troopsSpace intelligence data and their constant binding to the intended targets for mass use by high-precision weapons.
Reliable classified communications and electronic warfare (EW) systems. Unmanned aerial and sea-based vehicles controlled via satellites. Internet for the organization of constant interaction during the battle. Continuous training of troops in modern forms of combat and organization of events aimed at the formation of combat motivation of the personnel of the troops.
All this, plus the organization of information warfare in the media and social networks, are included in the list of new main factors that the opposing sides used in 2022 and are striving to do it further during the fighting in the zone of a special military operation (SVO) in Ukraine.
Neither the Russian Army nor the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) paid much attention to these factors in February 2022, when the special operation began. But the United States and NATO tried to correct this state of affairs not only with massive supplies of modern weapons to Ukraine, but also with assistance in deploying Elon Musk's Starlink satellite Internet terminals in the Armed Forces of Ukraine in March 2022. In total, in the spring-summer of 2022, with the support of the Pentagon, 15,000 Starlink terminals were delivered to Ukraine, which made it possible for the Armed Forces of Ukraine to be relatively independent from the effects of electronic warfare and have reliable closed communication in their units up to the battalion.
In fact, the Americans have rolled out a new formula of military operations related to IT technologies in Ukraine. Thanks to the target designations of American satellites, the real picture in the theater of military operations is broadcast via Starlink on the tablets of Ukrainian combat troops, where the coordinates of the necessary targets are determined at lightning speed. And in the next seconds or minutes, according to the decision of the command in the tactical link, with the help of artillery fire, tanks, multiple rocket launchers, drones, including high-precision projectiles, strikes are inflicted on the enemy.
In connection with these factors, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have changed the ways of conducting armed struggle. What exactly has been changed?
1. After the sabotage on the Crimean Bridge and the APU strikes on critical targets in Russia, from October 2022, the Russian Armed Forces began to effectively use unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and medium- and shorter-range air, sea and land-based missiles. If such strikes continue, it is possible to significantly destroy the energy and military-industrial potential of Ukraine in the near future, which will dramatically affect the reduction of the combat capability of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
2. The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, taking into account the capabilities of US space intelligence, which transmits data to the Armed Forces online, have strengthened camouflage, intelligence and covert command of troops. They have so far refused to use deep coverage and maneuvers to operational and tactical depth (up to 60-70 km). And, having an advantage in artillery and armored vehicles, but experiencing problems with the presence of reconnaissance UAVs, they destroy the enemy by squeezing them out of their positions.
The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation now carry out only tactical maneuvers to a depth of 1 to 3-5 km. The pace of the offensive is very small – only 200-300 m per day. The main forces of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation are now on the line of combat contact, the mass movement of units in columns is limited, combat work is mainly built as a defense in conditions of direct contact with the enemy.
The use of American means of counter-battery warfare by the Armed Forces of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation requires significant mobility and close effective interaction with troops on the front line from artillery and tank units of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation firing from closed firing positions.
3. Due to the constant supply from the United States and NATO to the Armed Forces of tactical air defense (air defense), including portable anti-aircraft systems, the mass use of Russian attack aircraft and attack helicopters in combat is still limited. There are no plans to land tactical air landings. Airborne troops after the spring of 2022 operate in the zone of their own as motorized rifle units.
The use of UAVs, kamikaze drones due to their shortage in a number of areas is also limited. As can be seen from official statements, this problem will be solved, since the state defense order has been increased in the Russian Federation by one and a half times. Defense factories produce the latest weapons in three shifts. The military-political leadership is waiting for the troops to be saturated with these weapons in the near future.
4. Both Kiev and Moscow are now facing an acute issue related to the motivation of military personnel participating in the battles, especially those recruited into the mobilization forces. The AFU uses modified Stalinist tactics of detachments. Such a role is played there by the militants of the "Right Sector" (the organization is banned in the Russian Federation), as well as members of nationalist formations.
In the Russian Federation, the private military company "Wagner" has organized a set of people serving time for criminal offenses: after participating in hostilities, criminal liability is removed from them. A certain combat motivation is the material factor for the Russian mobilized.
Thus, the leadership of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation improves the forms and methods of warfare during a special military operation. The military-industrial potential of the Russian Federation is still higher than that of Ukraine. In the Kremlin, this allows us to draw conclusions that the SVO will be completed successfully. This has been explicitly stated several times by the military-political leadership of the Russian Federation. But so far, Kiev still hopes for the support of the United States and the European Union and is not ready for a peaceful resolution of the conflict.
Vladimir Mukhin
Nezavisimaya Gazeta columnist
