How did Russia get away with having a crap army for so long?

[Tranquillus in Exile]

Until a few months ago they were rated among the top four or five in the world. They apparently kept up the pretence by picking only small, ill-equipped opponents like Chechnya and Georgia.

Did western intel have a clearer picture of their capabilities but for some reason concealed it?

Of course we shouldn't write them off completely. Recent events bring to mind the Winter War of 1939-40 in which Stalin, as part of his deal with Hitler, tried and failed to take over Finland. A couple of years later the Russians (by now on our side) managed to stop Hitler. They had the cannon fodder, all they needed was a lot of material help from the west.

[archives]

Guess those listed below the top four or five are worse

Russia hasn't mobilized their full military might in this conflict, hopefully, they won't, but I wouldn't discount their military capabilities solely on this effort. If I had to offer an opinion on their weakness it is their leadership, they definitely didn't plan it right and seemingly don't know how to capitalize on their air supremacy

[PostmodernProphet]

maybe, no wars since they left Afghanistan?......

[Cypress]

Makes one wonder if China's military is over rated.

It appears the Russian military was not trained nor had the organizational doctrine to carry our offensive wars against large European countries.

I really think Putin thought he would be greeted as liberator, and the Ukrainian armed forces would just evaporate in a few days

[T. A. Gardner]

For much of the time, the Soviet Army can be summed up as Quantity has a quality all its own.

[T. A. Gardner]

Makes one wonder if China's military is over rated.

It appears the Russian military was not trained nor had the organizational doctrine to carry our offensive wars against large European countries.

I really think Putin thought he would be greeted as liberator, and the Ukrainian armed forces would just evaporate in a few days

China's military is overrated, at least for now.

[Cypress]

China's military is overrated, at least for now.

NATO armies typically are organizationally more flexible, and they trust and expect NCOs and junior grade officers to show a lot of initiative.

It also seems crystal clear now that NATO weaponry is superior.

Authoritarian states like Russia and China typically do not trust NCOs and Junior grade officers to show initiative and creativity. That makes their organizational doctrine so inflexible. That also might be why so many Russian generals and colonels have been killed serving at the front lines. Their NCOs just aren't trained or trusted to show initiative.

[Walt]

maybe, no wars since they left Afghanistan?......

Two wars in Chechnya, a few wars in Georgia, a war in Dagestan, general wars in the Caucasus, Eastern Ukraine and the Crimea, Syria, Libya, and Central Africa... I am sure I am forgetting a few more wars. Three months ago, we would say all their wars were leading up to this(as a good thing for Putin), but now we say all their wars led up to this(as a bad thing for Putin).

[Walt]

China's military is overrated, at least for now.

Hey, I completely agree with Gardner.

It is impossible to tell what the future will bring, but there is no way on earth that China could invade Taiwan today.

[PostmodernProphet]

Two wars in Chechnya, a few wars in Georgia, a war in Dagestan, general wars in the Caucasus, Eastern Ukraine and the Crimea, Syria, Libya, and Central Africa... I am sure I am forgetting a few more wars. Three months ago, we would say all their wars were leading up to this(as a good thing for Putin), but now we say all their wars led up to this(as a bad thing for Putin).

chasing terrorists in Chechnya was a war?.......does that mean we were at war with antifa in Portland?.....

[Walt]

chasing terrorists in Chechnya was a war?

They quickly destroyed the Chechen Republic, and then spent 20 years breaking the resistance. It was how we all assumed the Ukrainian invasion would go. Russia would invade Ukraine in 3 days, and then spend decades fighting the resistance... Calling them terrorists, as PMS does.

It did not go as planned.

[saltydancin]

Until a few months ago they were rated among the top four or five in the world. They apparently kept up the pretence by picking only small, ill-equipped opponents like Chechnya and Georgia.

Did western intel have a clearer picture of their capabilities but for some reason concealed it?

Of course we shouldn't write them off completely. Recent events bring to mind the Winter War of 1939-40 in which Stalin, as part of his deal with Hitler, tried and failed to take over Finland. A couple of years later the Russians (by now on our side) managed to stop Hitler. They had the cannon fodder, all they needed was a lot of material help from the west.

Maybe Russians are just too involved in organized crime as those politicizing the USA military which utilizes Federal Lynching enforcement for their stealing a US Constitution from a military hospital to burn on a cross after previously thieving a plastic wrapped old glory inside an old testament for arson as the national religion to run war crimes against this country under color of law as a Christain Nation which will never have a trial.

[Geeko Sportivo]