Retired British senior army officer Sir Richard Shirreff claimed that it was no surprise that morale was broken on the Russian side, as Vladimir Putin had been indiscriminately bolstering his army with large numbers of old and young men. Sir Richard discussed the ongoing reports of new Russian conscripts being asked to find their own military equipment and clothing, in order to participate in the war. And he explained that many of the conscripts were receiving minimal training before being forced on the frontline.
Times Radio host Carole Walker said: “Do you think there are real signs of Russian morale crumbling?”
Sir Richard Shirreff said: “Oh definitely, absolutely, without question.
“I think what you mentioned is very interesting, but I also think there’s plenty of stuff on Twitter and other social media demonstrating the real frankly, if not fragility.
“The fact that morale is broken in many places, and it’s no surprise because if you scoop up indiscriminately large numbers of young men and not-so-young men.
“In some cases off the streets of Russia, put them into uniform or put them into the army with minimal training, telling them to find their own kit, get their own uniform, and then expect them to fight.
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The retired senior officer added: “The morale is going to be rock bottom.
“Add to that, the fact that they haven’t got the right equipment this winter, the weather is diabolical, it’s wet and it’s cold.
“It’s going to get much colder when the freezing starts, they haven’t got any equipment and what are they there to do? Fight and die for the motherland, attacking another country.
“It’s not surprising that morale is as shaky as it is and I would expect it to get worse as the winter goes on.”
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Putin has been continuing to try and bolster his armed forces despite reports that Russian men are lacking interest in the war.
He has been scrambling to sign Russian men up and has even recruited prisoners and a group of notorious football hooligans.
Russian officials have been backing up Western military experts’ claims about Russian soldiers lacking the correct equipment for the war.
Mr Slutsky exposed the military shortcomings at a meeting with the mothers of Russian soldiers on the frontlines of the battle.
He said: “There are not enough doctors in the military units; everyone says this. I cannot say they do not exist at all, but they are practically not seen there.
“We must understand that the whole world is watching us.
“We are the largest state and when we do not have socks, shorts, doctors, intelligence, communications, or simply care for our children, questions arise that will be very difficult to answer.”
