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Archives for September 2018

Michael Kofman sums up Vostok 2018

2018-09-30 By Anders Puck Nielsen Leave a Comment

Nowhere near 300,000 soldiers took part in the exercise, but it was still interesting. Not least for its focus on a free-play scenario instead of the usual rehearsal of predefined maneuvers.

Filed Under: Military strategy and politics Tagged With: Russia

Europe hopes for status quo but must prepare for NATO without U.S.

2018-09-28 By Anders Puck Nielsen Leave a Comment

Interesting and pessimistic take on the future of NATO by Sten Rynning in War on the Rocks: In this short essay, I argue that NATO is actually witnessing a return of European geopolitics that runs in parallel to the questioning of geopolitical priorities occurring in the United States. European allies clearly prefer continuity when it […]

Filed Under: Military strategy and politics Tagged With: NATO

Israel has reckless attitude to safety, says Russia after Il-20 crash

2018-09-24 By Anders Puck Nielsen Leave a Comment

Il-20

Russia seems genuinely tired of Israel’s behavior when it comes to deconfliction during air strikes. They have presented evidence that Israel uses the established deconfliction channels very little and too late. Surprisingly, they praise the Americans for being very professional about safety.

Filed Under: Air Force Tagged With: Israel, Russia

Second Lada-class submarine launched 13 years after keel laying

2018-09-21 By Anders Puck Nielsen Leave a Comment

Submarine Kronshtadt

Russia’s most modern diesel-electric submarine is the Lada-class, and now the second ship in the series has been launched into the water. Barring further delays, it will be handed to the navy in 2020. It still doesn’t have air-independent propulsion, though.

Filed Under: Navy Tagged With: Russia

Russia crowns terrible PR week with new “evidence” about MH17 shoot-down

2018-09-18 By Anders Puck Nielsen Leave a Comment

mh17

Russia has presented evidence that Ukraine owned the BUK missile that shot down Malaysian Airlines Flight 17. But their credibility record is really poor when it comes to explanations about MH17. This tops a week with several stories that make the Russian government look silly.

Filed Under: Air Force Tagged With: Russia

Russia still plans to build Mistral-class replacement

2018-09-14 By Anders Puck Nielsen Leave a Comment

Mistral class

Russia seems determined to build new large universal landing ships for the Navy. It is obvious that they really wanted the Mistral-class ships that France in 2015 decided not to deliver.

Filed Under: Navy Tagged With: Amphibious and landing forces, Russia

Exposure of GRU spy in Estonian Army is a blow to integration of Russians

2018-09-13 By Anders Puck Nielsen Leave a Comment

Deniss Metsavas

Army major Deniss Metsavas was a role model for successful integration of Russians in Estonia. He appeared on TV several times posing as a patriotic Estonian. But now he has been exposed as a GRU spy, and suspicion against the Russian minority has soared.

Filed Under: Military strategy and politics Tagged With: Estonia, NATO, Russia

Rosgvardiya general challenges Alexei Navalny to duel in mindless video rant

2018-09-12 By Anders Puck Nielsen Leave a Comment

Viktor Zolotov

Rosgvardiya general Viktor Zolotov challenges Alexei Navalny to a fist fight in a disastrous public video address. It is discomforting that this guy is in charge of the internal security forces in Russia. Zolotov is also Putin’s old-time friend and former bodyguard.

Filed Under: Military strategy and politics Tagged With: Russia

Political officers return in Russia’s military

2018-09-10 By Anders Puck Nielsen Leave a Comment

Andrey Kartapolov

Russia is reintroducing political officers – zampolits – that bring back memories of political commissars from the USSR. The goal is to ensure patriotism and political unity behind president Putin’s line.

Filed Under: Army Tagged With: Military Leadership, Russia

Russian officers struggle with work-life balance

2018-09-04 By Anders Puck Nielsen Leave a Comment

Sergey Surovikin

Long work hours are a problem in the Russian military. But now initiatives are implemented to reduce the burden and make life more bearable for the Russian officers and their families.

Filed Under: Army Tagged With: Military Leadership, Russia

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Gerasimov on the characteristics of modern warfare

An analysis of general Gerasimov’s speech to the military academic community in March 2018. The speech confirms Gerasimov’s earlier statements about the nature of modern warfare. There is a clear focus on conventional military capabilities which is interesting considering president Putin’s dramatic talk about nuclear weapons earlier this month.

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