Ukraine Live: Why Russian morale could fall on day 4 of Putin's invasion
Russian troops lack sleep, motivation and diesel
Sunday 27th February, 2022. Vladimir Putin’s forces are not sat with their feet up in Kyiv’s hotels and cafes, as expected. Instead, they are fighting for their lives against an organised and determined Ukrainian defence force. Ordinary Ukrainians, from bankers, journalists, bakers, and teachers have taken up arms to support their armed forces, in what has become a fight for survival.
There are several environmental and existential issues facing Russian forces. Yesterday, we spoke of Russia’s logistical problems and why it’s difficult to maintain armoured vehicles in the field. Anyone who has served in the military will tell you how difficult it is to stay motivated when placed on endured operations without relief. Putin's troops will feel the affects of a long deep winter deployment. There will be soldiers with an array of field-related problems, ranging from immersion foot syndrome, non-freezing cold injuries, dysentery and the mental baggage of military operations.
Infantry units carry limited amounts of equipment, and keeping a dry set of clothing is difficult in cold and damp climates. Adopting the prone position on snow or frosty ground instantly saps heat from the body. Troops laying in forward positions must maintain vigilance without giving away their position. That means no fires, and wearing limited amounts of warm clothing. A soldier wearing thermal clothing under their combat fatigues will suffer heat exhaustion if they have to fight.
In the cold conditions of Eastern Europe, a daily intake of at least two litres of water is essential. Dehydration leads to fatigue. Once a soldier becomes tired he/she has little appetite for staying alert, cleaning weapons, standing sentry, or carrying out vehicle maintenance. Combat troops wearing body armour can expect to carry weights of up to 65KG of personal equipment. Soldiers carrying additional weights of radios, spare batteries, spare ammunition and specialist equipment will soon feel the effects of muscle fatigue. The tempo and physical endurance needed by a soldier means they must consume at least 3,000 calories on the battlefield. The human body will use energy from muscle once fat reserves have depleted. Hungry soldiers pose risks to the civilian population, who must guard against looting.
A soldier’s best friend is their personal weapon, but without ammunition, a weapon becomes a dead weight. Life becomes very difficult in the field without a warm hat, gloves and a good pair of ankle length boots. Wet boots are almost impossible to dry in winter conditions. Some of the images we have vetted of Russian troops shows them wearing inappropriate footwear and clothing.
Everything mentioned in this article adds a burden to the psychological aspects of modern warfare. The sight of an armoured vehicle, the sound of an explosion, or the screams of a dying colleague can play havoc with an individual’s mindset. Military leadership is all about making quick, informed decisions in high-pressure situations. Great leaders know how to ask the right questions and think strategically in order to come to the best conclusions possible. Strategic thinking is the last thing on the mind of a hungry, tired and frightened soldier.
Soldiers operating at the front line require the sound judgement of commanders leading enabling components in the rear. A sample of questions raised by enabling components include;
How do I replenish ammunition, how much is need and what type?
How do I replenish food and water?
How do I replace radio batteries, and recover damaged equipment?
Where do I conduct the resupply?
What are the security arrangements?
What assets do I need to conduct the resupply?
How do I evacuate the injured?
On day four of the invasion, Ukrainian media outlet Kyiv Independent reports more Russian casualties.
Russian commanders face the challenge of winter operations against a well-equipped and determined army. What Putin doesn’t know is how many of his soldiers are fully committed to his cause. The longer the conflict continues, the greater the risk of troops running out of supplies, and maintaining a good level of morale.