The Russian army is using tactics against Ukrainian troops in Syria and wonders why they are not working.
Now everyone will agree: Russian aggression against civilians Syrians was a rehearsal of the atrocities from which Ukraine now suffers. Hospitals are being bombed. Children are brutally killed. Electricity and water are disappearing in cities.
War-torn Syria is back in the spotlight, which has been lacking for several years. Especially when it became known that Vladimir Putin made his former commander in the Syrian campaign leading the war against Ukraine. For many, the bombing of Mariupol seems like a repeat of 2016, when the city of Aleppo was completely destroyed. Russia is once again despising declared humanitarian corridors, spreading propaganda and committing war crimes, the Washington Post writes.
But fortunately for Ukrainians, the two wars are very different in some key respects. Success in Syria has probably given Putin confidence. However, the operation in the Middle East is unlikely to serve as a guide to invading Ukraine, where a stronger-than-expected army is questioning Russia's capabilities. The publication lists the reasons why Syrian tactics will not help Russia in the war against the Armed Forces.
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reason – in Syria, the Russian military could hide its shortcomings, but not in Ukraine . Putin has sent many more troops to Ukrainian territory. Only a few thousand Russian troops have been in Syria to help Bashar al-Assad's regime destroy opposition groups. According to Joel Rybarn, who worked as the US special envoy to Syria, this allowed Moscow to hide the shortcomings of its army, using only the best units and conducting regular rotations.
In Ukraine, where Putin has already sent 100,000 to 200,000 soldiers, this is simply impossible. The Russian army is on display around the world. And she looks bad. She is clumsy, bureaucratic, and relies on very poor intelligence. In Syria, the Russian army was mostly just air strikes. In Ukraine, its long and clumsy columns of tanks were stuck for a long time on the way to Kyiv, where they were destroyed en masse.
The second reason – this time Russia has declared war on a consolidated government . In Syria, she was an ally of the Assad regime in the war against fragmented opposition groups. But the Ukrainian rival is politically stable and united. Assad has launched a global propaganda campaign, calling all opposition figures, including peaceful protesters, “Islamic State terrorists.” Tactics of the repressive regime split dozens of different groups and undermined the initial freedom movement. For the rest, the views of various opposition members began to diverge. Some wanted Assad to simply step down, while others wanted an Islamist government. In Ukraine, the situation is quite the opposite. After the Russian annexation of Crimea in 2014, the Armed Forces began to actively rearm and increase forces. President Volodymyr Zelensky is considered a strong leader who has united the country. In addition, the morale of Ukrainians is much better, because they are fighting for their homes and families.
The third reason – Ukraine is better armed than the Syrians . In Syria, the Russian army fought lightly armed infantry, which had no heavy equipment at all, let alone air defense. But Russia made a big mistake when it decided that it could bomb Ukraine with impunity, quickly dealing with its air defense and air force. And because Kyiv enjoys widespread international support, it receives a steady supply of arms from the United States and its allies. Washington also supplied some weapons to the Syrian opposition. But the scale of these deliveries was much smaller. In addition, aid began to arrive only after several years of war.
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And the fourth reason – Syrians willingly share experiences with Ukrainians . Recently, American journalist Josh Rogin interviewed the leader of the Syrian Civil Defense Force, known as the White Helmets. The group was mainly involved in rescuing, evacuating and providing emergency assistance to civilians. Its volunteers have recently focused on helping Ukrainians. The White Helmets have produced a series of videos that give Ukrainians practical advice on how to survive the Russian attack. In particular, they advise to use walkie-talkies instead of mobile phones, as well as be prepared that in 7-9 minutes after the first strike, Moscow will definitely strike a second.
Earlier it was reported that in Russia Mobilization continues to fail – even those who fought in Syria do not want to fight against the Armed Forces.
See the special topic: Simplified EIT in the conditions of war – what will be the test on the history of Ukraine Testing will not be postponed and it will take place on schedule. Kremlin threats will not force US to suspend aid to Ukraine – State Department The US State Department is not ready to confirm Washington's private diplomatic correspondence with the Kremlin. The government and the UN have announced additional payments to IDPs The funds will be paid monthly to each family member. Ukraine must remain a reliable transit country for Russian gas during the transition period – expert Refusal of transit is now causing panic in the spot market and will only increase Russia's profits. The world must be prepared for Putin to use nuclear weapons – Zelensky The same can be said for chemical weapons.
