Omnibus Russia Ukraine crisis

Twin_Moose

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petros

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Euromaidan Press

The Economist: Russia needs ceasefire as Soviet-era weapon stocks deplete​

Russian forces may adopt a more defensive posture in Ukraine by the end of summer 2024.

17/07/2024
1 MINUTE READ
Russia's Kharkiv offensive flops. Defense expert reveals why and what's next
Destroyed Russian military equipment and bodies of Russian soldiers in Ukraine. Photo: https://t.me/dobrik_live

The Economist: Russia needs ceasefire as Soviet-era weapon stocks deplete

According to The Economist’s analysis, Russia’s vast Soviet-era weapon stocks are depleting. The Russian offensive in Kharkiv Oblast is faltering, and advances in Donbas have been strategically insignificant and costly. The focus now shifts to Russia’s ability to sustain its current operational tempo.

While Russia can still mobilize troops and increase missile production, it struggles to replace lost tanks, armored vehicles, and artillery. These are primarily replaced by refurbishing old Soviet-era stock, which is huge but finite. After two years of war, Russia has lost about 3,000 tanks and 5,000 other armored vehicles, with actual numbers likely higher.
Russia’s ability to produce new equipment is limited:
  • Only about 30 new tanks can be built annually
  • 85% of tanks delivered in 2023 were refurbished old models
  • Sanctions have cut off crucial imported components
  • The former Soviet weapons supply chain no longer exists.
Equipment losses in Ukraine war. Photo: The Economist

Artillery barrel production is also a concern, with only two factories producing about 100 barrels each annually, far below the thousands needed.

Experts estimate that at current attrition rates, Russia’s ability to refurbish tanks and infantry vehicles from storage will reach a “critical point of exhaustion” by late 2025. This may force Russian forces to adopt a more defensive posture, possibly as early as the end of summer 2024.

The Economist concludesthat Putin’s interest in agreeing to a temporary ceasefire may increase as a result of these challenges.
 

Jinentonix

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Just saw footage of some lovely Soviet-era grenades the Russians near Kherson got. Fucking things are probably more dangerous to the Russians. They look like they've been in storage for the last 50 years with rust flaking off them.

Meanwhile, other Soviet-era munitions have already proven deadly for the Russians. They hauled out an old AA gun with its ammo and the first round blew up the gun and its crew.

"Experts estimate that at current attrition rates, Russia’s ability to refurbish tanks and infantry vehicles from storage will reach a “critical point of exhaustion” by late 2025."
I'd say they're already having great trouble with their infantry vehicle supply considering they're using glorified golf carts (made in China) and motorcycles. As well as converting T-62s, and T-54/55s into "turtles". That tells me they are suffering a critical shortage of IFVs, APCs and AFVs. The main difference being the guns on the turtle tanks are pretty much useless and thus are rarely if ever given ammo for the main gun.
 
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petros

The Central Scrutinizer
Nov 21, 2008
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Just saw footage of some lovely Soviet-era grenades the Russians near Kherson got. Fucking things are probably more dangerous to the Russians. They look like they've been in storage for the last 50 years with rust flaking off them.

Meanwhile, other Soviet-era munitions have already proven deadly for the Russians. They hauled out an old AA gun with its ammo and the first round blew up the gun and its crew.

"Experts estimate that at current attrition rates, Russia’s ability to refurbish tanks and infantry vehicles from storage will reach a “critical point of exhaustion” by late 2025."
I'd say they're already having great trouble with their infantry vehicle supply considering they're using glorified golf carts (made in China) and motorcycles. As well as converting T-62s, and T-54/55s into "turtles". That tells me they are suffering a critical shortage of IFVs, APCs and AFVs. The main difference being the guns on the turtle tanks are pretty much useless and thus are rarely if ever given ammo for the main gun.
They recently brought out Howitzers only Iran and North Korea have ammo for. Thry are salvaging BMP turrets for the guns.

29 months of a 3 day war...
 

Jinentonix

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Same goes for Kursk, Belgorad, Rostove on Don Volgograd.....etc etc etc. Rusdia used to buy a shit tonne of electricity from Ukraine now their power is being bombed.

Cutting off the nose to spite the face.

29th month of a 3 day war...
Nobody ever accused the Putinistas of being smart. Well other than their own propaganda clown shows.