9 Reasons Why Russian Forces Are Struggling... WP: "Opponent's Misjudgment and Insufficient Preparation"

On the 3rd (local time), soldiers were inspecting the destroyed remains of Russian tanks, armored vehicles, and military vehicles scattered on the streets in Bucha, a suburb of Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Sumi] Recently, The Washington Post (WP) summarized and reported the reasons why Russia, which once boasted the world's second most overwhelming military power, is struggling in its invasion of Ukraine.

First, it pointed to Russia's misjudgment of Ukraine as a critical mistake. WP stated, "The Russian military expected to be welcomed like liberators in Ukraine," adding, "They anticipated a bloodless entry not only in the eastern Donbas region, where the proportion of pro-Russian residents is high, but also in the capital Kyiv (Kiyev)."

However, Ukraine's resistance was so strong that it surprised the entire world. WP said, "With the support of Western weapons, Ukraine fiercely pushed back the Russian forces," and "not only the regular army but also civilians attacked the Russian troops with hunting rifles, Molotov cocktails, and bricks."

Secondly, WP pointed out the insufficient preparation of the Russian military. WP reported, "A significant number of Russian prisoners of war captured by Ukraine testified that they crossed the border without even being informed of the invasion," and "soldiers who were psychologically unprepared for combat experienced a sharp decline in morale on the battlefield." Furthermore, WP analyzed that the morale of the Russian forces worsened even more due to the large number of casualties.

Logistical issues were also identified as a major mistake for the Russian military. WP noted that the Russian forces crossed the Ukrainian border with only two weeks' worth of food supplies, which quickly ran out. In fact, videos appeared on social media showing Russian soldiers wasting time next to equipment that had run out of fuel or stealing chicken from stores.

The Russian military reportedly failed to properly supply essential modern warfare equipment such as night vision goggles. When Ukrainian forces, equipped with night vision, launched ambush attacks under the cover of darkness, the Russian troops repeatedly found themselves helpless.

Tank breakdowns were frequent as well. Moreover, the trucks deployed to fix these issues were mostly poorly maintained. WP reported that such poor operations and preparations significantly weakened the Russian military's combat effectiveness.

Additionally, WP considered Russia's failure to prepare any countermeasures for the strong resistance from Ukrainian forces as a serious mistake. While devising new response plans, Russian soldiers had no choice but to walk into Ukrainian ambush points following their existing orders.