V
A demonstration of Vladimir Putin’s military prowess on May 9 was undermined on Monday by British defense chiefs, who said his forces should fire “aging” ammunition in Ukraine after using many of their precision weapons.
Just hours before the Russian president watched a military parade in Moscow’s Red Square, the Defense Ministry in London stressed the “shortcomings” of the Russian military’s precision strikes.
Victory Day parade in Russia 2022
A screen shows Russian President Vladimir Putin delivering a speech as troops line up in Red Square during the Victory Day parade in central Moscow on May 9, 2022 – Russia celebrates the 77th anniversary of its victory over Nazi Germany. during World War II
AFP via Getty Images
Members of a military band attend the Victory Day parade on Red Square in central Moscow on May 9, 2022 – Russia celebrates the 77th anniversary of its victory over Nazi Germany during World War II.
AFP via Getty Images
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu fights in Red Square during a military parade on Victory Day in central Moscow
AFP via Getty Images
Military vehicles pass through the far eastern city of Vladivostok during a military parade marking the 77th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.
AFP via Getty Images
Military vehicles pass through the far eastern city of Vladivostok during a military parade marking the 77th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.
AFP via Getty Images
Victory Day parade in Moscow
Spectators attend a military parade on Victory Day in Red Square, which marks the 77th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.
REUTERS
Russian servicemen take part in a military parade on Red Square Victory Day, marking the 77th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.
REUTERS
People carry portraits of their relatives – World War II soldiers – as they take part in the Immortal Regiment’s march in the far eastern city of Vladivostok
AFP via Getty Images
Vladimir Putin delivers speech as servicemen line up in Red Square during Victory Day military parade in central Moscow
Sky News
Members of a military band attend a military parade on Victory Day on Red Square in central Moscow
AFP via Getty Images
Sailors take part in a military parade marking the 77th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War II in the far eastern city of Vladivostok
AFP via Getty Images
Victory Day parade in Moscow
Russian servicemen take part in a military parade on Red Square Victory Day, marking the 77th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.
REUTERS
Participants line up ahead of a RedSquare Victory Day military parade to mark the 77th anniversary of Nazi Germany’s victory in World War II.
REUTERS
Participants dressed in historical uniforms ride World War II-era motorcycles decorated with Z-style stickers, which became a symbol of support for Russian military action in Ukraine during a military parade in Novosibirsk marking 77 the anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War II
AFP via Getty Images
The Speaker of the Lower House of the Russian Parliament, the State Duma, Vyacheslav Volodin and Deputy Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova arrive to watch the military parade on Victory Day on Red Square
AFP via Getty Images
Security guards stand in Red Square ahead of Victory Day military parade in Moscow, Russia
AP
Soldiers take part in a military parade marking the 77th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War II in the far eastern city of Vladivostok
AFP via Getty Images
Participants in historical uniforms take part in a military parade marking the 77th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War II in the far eastern city of Vladivostok.
AFP via Getty Images
A boy dressed in a Red Army uniform watches a Victory Day parade marking the 77th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War II in Vladivostok
REUTERS
This failure meant that Putin’s generals resorted to indiscriminate shelling and air strikes, killing thousands, if not tens of thousands, of civilians in Ukraine.
May 9 is a key date in Russia’s military calendar, marking the capitulation of the Nazis during World War II and holding an annual parade in Moscow’s Red Square.
READ MORE
Mr Putin was expected to deliver a long speech in defense of his volatile invasion of Ukraine, which began on 24 February, and to gather his armed forces amid reports of low morale in some military units.
But early Monday morning, the latest intelligence briefing from the Ministry of Defense in London gave a humiliating assessment of Russian operations in Ukraine.
It says: “At the beginning of its invasion of Ukraine, Russia publicly promoted its ability to perform surgical strikes and limit side damage. It states that therefore Ukrainian cities will be safe from bombing.
However, as the conflict continues beyond Russia’s pre-war expectations, Russia’s stockpiles of precision ammunition are likely to be severely depleted.
“This has necessitated the use of readily available but obsolete munitions that are less reliable, less accurate and easier to intercept.”
It added: “Russia will probably struggle to replace the precision weapons it has already used up.
“Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has revealed shortcomings in its ability to make precise large-scale strikes. Russia has subjected Ukrainian cities to intense and indiscriminate bombing with little or no regard for civilian casualties.
Following the failure of his plan for a lightning invasion, which included capturing Kyiv in days, Mr Putin redirected his military campaign to the Donbass region of eastern Ukraine, where the Donetsk and Luhansk districts are held by Moscow-backed separatists.
But his forces failed to capture a single large city of Ukrainian fighters in the besieged port city of Mariupol, lingering in the sprawling Azovstal steel plant. Russian forces made a new attempt to seize the huge steel mine and gain control of the city.
Add Comment