International press review
In the spotlight: the Russian army's equipment and recruitment problems
Audio 04:58
Russian army soldiers march during an action in support of soldiers involved in the special military operation in Ukraine, at the Mamaev Kurgan, a World War II memorial in Volgograd, Russia, July 11, 2022. © AP / Alexandr Kulikov
By: Anne Corpet Follow
5 mins
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The war continues in Ukraine: several towns were again bombed yesterday and the international press continues to relay news from the front.
But according to The
New York Times
, the Russian military faces serious equipment and recruiting problems.
More casualties than in almost ten years of combat in Afghanistan
“
Russia's shortcomings create an opportunity for Ukraine
,” headlines the American daily, quoting NATO experts: “
Russians could slow down their operations after the bloodiest phase of the war
”.
According to the newspaper, Moscow has already committed nearly 85% of its army to the conflict, and lost 15,000 to 20,000 men in combat.
"
It's more than in nearly ten years of fighting in Afghanistan
," notes the daily, which refers to a shortage of men but also serious equipment problems.
According to estimates by the
New York Times
, Russia, for example, lost a third of its tanks.
"
Moscow has several times announced strategic pauses in its offensive, while maintaining its artillery attacks, but this time it is the reality on the ground that could force the Russian military to slow down their operations
", estimates the American newspaper.
More and more conscientious objectors
In Belgium,
Le Soir
tells precisely how young Russian men try to dodge the call to the flag.
Officially, the young recruits are not sent to the Ukrainian front, but their names regularly appear on the list of dead, "
this is why the Russians trade tricks to escape conscription
", explains the newspaper, which recalls that the right conscientious objection is guaranteed by the Constitution.
Le Soir
interviewed a Russian human rights defender who helps young people to assert this right.
“
There should be ten thousand conscientious objectors this year
”, he estimates before specifying: “
Even professional soldiers are turning their backs on the army.
They have the right to terminate their contract because of their beliefs.
Previously such cases were rare, this year there should be several hundred
.”
Le Soir
also mentions some initiatives taken by Russians to "
sabotage Putin's war
".
Some are illegal and therefore very risky, such as the action of the "
rail resistance
" which calls for making the railway lines to Ukraine and Belarus impassable.
Their Telegram group has 14,000 members.
"
They waged a real clandestine struggle, targeting guidance installations and railway tracks
", says
Le Soir
, "
and they succeeded
: between March and June, 63 freight trains derailed in Russia, half more than in the same period last year
".
The Belgian daily notes that since the beginning of the war, the whole of Russian territory has been affected by factory fires and attacks, in particular against recruitment offices.
"
We don't know who is responsible for these incidents
", admits
Le Soir
,
“
but they show that an underground movement has formed which opposes Putin's war by force
”.
Belarusians engaged alongside Ukrainian forces
In Canada,
Le Devoir
looked at the resistance of Belarusians.
According to the newspaper, many of them have taken up arms alongside the Ukrainians or “
organized sabotage against the dictatorship of Alexander Lukashenko, more than ever in the pay of the Kremlin
”.
Patrice Senécal, contributor to
Le Devoir
, met a group of Belarusian dissidents in Warsaw who are preparing to leave for Ukraine under the colors of the Kastous Kalinowski regiment, recognized by the Kiev army.
"
Fighting for Ukraine means defending their freedom but also ours, many Belarusians have understood this
", explains Pavel Kuchta, the regiment's recruiter before adding: "
Victory for Ukraine is vital, and Lukashenko will not be able to hold on in Belarus if he loses the ally he has in Putin
”.
According to a Belarusian political scientist exiled in Poland also quoted by
Le Devoir
, “
the troops of the Kastous Kalinowski regiment will become an important lever for change in Belarus.
This poses a clear threat to Lukashenko
.”
Youri, a young Belarusian soldier who is preparing to join Ukraine, confirms this in the columns of the newspaper: “
Two years ago, we did not manage to dislodge Lukashenko by peaceful means,
he says.
Today, Belarusians are taking up arms and this is preparing the ground for a possible confrontation with the regime.
With the hope that after having helped Ukraine, it will also come to support us when the time comes
”.
Western trainers for Ukrainian soldiers
In Britain,
The Guardian
is interested in another supporter of the Ukrainian army: the military trainers of the Mozart group, a name chosen to mock the Wagner group, the Russian paramilitary organization.
But the members of the Mozart group, former Western soldiers, do not fight, they only train members of the Ukrainian army.
"
The line is very clear, if one of our volunteers is involved in the fighting, he is excluded from the group
", specifies Andy Milburn, former American colonel and founder of this private company.
“
We're doing it the other way around, we're training people who have already been to the front
,” says Dathan, a former Irish soldier who is a member of the group, before explaining: “
The Ukrainian government doesn't want to admit it, but most of their soldiers are not really trained.
Their luck is that they face Russian soldiers who are not trained either
”.
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