Battle against elements is major preoccupation for Russia, MOD says
Eyewitness accounts from Russian troops in Ukraine suggest the soldier's age-old battle against the elements remains a major preoccupation for Russia's army, according to the Ministry of Defence (MOD).
In its latest defence intelligence update on X, formerly Twitter, the MOD said: "On 1 November 2023, recently returned Russian soldiers speaking at the Ogakov Readings military affairs conference in Moscow described being 'wet from head to toe' for weeks on end on the frontline.
"One soldier highlighted that the risk of fire alerting Ukrainian forces meant that they 'couldn't even boil a mug of tea'."
The latest defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine also said Russian soldiers had highlighted living and eating monotonous food in pervasive mud.
The MOD said: "Maintaining a decent level of personal comfort and sound administration in defensive positions is challenging for any army.
"However, open-source evidence suggests a generally very poor level on enforcement of basic field administration amongst Russian forces.
"This is likely partially caused by a deficit in motivated junior commanders as well as variable logistical support."
Ukraine's commander-in-chief General Valery Zaluzhnyi, in a recent interview, described a "stalemate" on the battlefield, adding that a prolonged war of attrition would favour Russia.
Gen Zaluzhnyi added that only new capabilities, including more supplies from Western allies as well as locally produced drones, would tip the balance back in Kyiv's favour.
As winter approaches, Ukraine's counter-offensive continues to yield little and the reality of a long war is setting in.
Reports say that soldiers on the frontline are exhausted but remain highly motivated, and Kyiv says more support is needed from the West to gain the initiative.
New US security assistance
The US Department of Defense (DOD) announced on Friday additional security assistance to meet Ukraine's critical security and defence needs.
This includes the drawdown of security assistance from DOD inventories valued at up to $125m to meet Ukraine's immediate battlefield needs, as well as $300m in Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) funds to strengthen Ukraine's air defences over the longer term.
The package includes:
- Additional munitions for National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS)
- Additional ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (Himar)
- 155mm and 105mm artillery rounds
- Tube-launched, Optically-Tracked, Wire-Guided (TOW) missiles
- Javelin and AT-4 anti-armour systems
- More than 3,000,000 rounds of small arms ammunition and grenades
- Demolition munitions for obstacle clearing
- M18A1 Claymore anti-personnel munitions
- Twelve trucks to transport heavy equipment
- Cold weather gear
- Spare parts, maintenance and other field equipment
Under USAI, the DOD will provide Ukraine with:
- Additional laser-guided munitions to counter Unmanned Aerial Systems
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