https://nypost.com/2022/03/10/fuming-putin-fires-generals-over-ukraine-invasion-losses/
"Enraged Russian President Vladimir Putin has gone on a tear, firing as many as eight generals over Moscow’s military losses in the invasion of Ukraine, Kyiv’s defense chief claims.
Ukraine Defense Secretary Oleksiy Danilov made the claim on Ukrainian TV Wednesday,
according to the newspaper Ukrayinska Pravda.
“[The enemy] had about 8 generals removed from their posts because they did not complete the task. New ones have been appointed,” Danilov said.
“We clearly understand what is happening in the Russian Federation,” he added. “What’s more, I can tell they’re desperate.”
The claims by Danilov come amid other indications that all is not well in Moscow..."
"While Putin is busy firing Russian generals, the Ukrainians have been hard at work killing them..."
Not sure which is worse, getting fired by Putin, or getting shot by a sniper in Ukraine. Although in all fairness, the severance package for anyone being fired by Putin might
also include a shot in the head.
I get a little chuckle every time I read news like this, but I know it's not permanent. Putin replacing his generals means that he's at least trying to get his army's act together. And it will probably succeed to some extent, which means harder times for Ukraine. I think Russia can just keep on sending more people and intensify the bombing until he wins. Just like Stalin in WW2.
Maybe. But it’s a good sign. Every general that he fires is another who hates him. What do the front line troops fighting think of their generals or the new ones? Or do they even give a shit? Do they even know?
I’d bet quite a few of them are pissed at all of the generals right now. They were expecting a cake walk, to be welcomed. Now they’re suffering severe casualties. Worse than anything since WWII. Will they last?
Note how the tank column in ysterday’s video fled after their CO was killed. Junior officers don’t know how to take over and lead. There’s no initiative taken by the forces. Granted, the Ukrainians got lucky then. But when your soldiers are told only to obey, that’s all they do. Without orders they fall apart. They aren’t pressing the fight.
In WW2 in North Africa, the US army failed miserably at the battle of the Kasserine Pass. General George Patton was put in charge to straighten things out. This included firing a bunch of generals and other officers. The US army was green and inexperienced. Much like the Russian Army in Ukraine.
The US logistics system never failed at Kasserine pass. In fact, it’s what stopped the Germans from breaching Kasserine Pass. The German offensive made only brief gains before being chased back. In fact, the battle was long over within the almost four weeks that Russia has invaded Ukraine and gotten stuck there.
This isn't anything like that situation. Morale never cracked in the US Army. For the most part they retreated in good order, and then held the reformed line at Kasserine. They rushed artillery and supplies up and then drove them back. They then drove the Germans pretty much into an unwinnable spot above Tunis where they surrendered after evacuations failed.
Contrast that with the Russians. Russians are forced to stop and forage for food right now. They are forced to spend freezing nights in cold vehicles, or otherwise run out of gas. They are not pressing their fight at all, as the tank column going in Skybyn demonstrated. Their leadership model is a failure too. There’s no initiative by junior officers or NCO’s. They’ve been pretty much stuck for at least a week.
They aren’t likely to get their shit together against a determined and well armed foe that has the logistical support of the west. Weapons and aid are flowing into Ukraine, unlike the isolated Germans in Tunisia. It will likely take years for Russia to fix its logistical structure. They are wedded to a simplistic doctrine of stand back and bomb the crap out of the cities. But how long can they sustain that without seriously depleting their strategic reserves? can they build missiles as fast as they use them? I’m a little skeptical. This isn’t world war 2, and their economy isn’t on a war footing such that they can mass produce tanks, armored vehicles and missiles faster than they are being destroyed. It takes time for them to build up such capacities. According to one source, they’ve lost 5 billion dollars in equipment destroyed- not to mention about 12,000 KIA. How fast can they replace those losses?
Recall that after a few weeks of military action in Libya, and the US became concerned about their reserves of smart weapons. So I’m skeptical that Russia can sustain this offensive for several months without serious risk.
