12.12.2023, Berlin.
Western countries need to take the potential of the Russian army more seriously and stop underestimating it. German Colonel Markus Reisner expressed this opinion in an interview with Telepolis on December 11.
According to him, the biggest and long-term problem for Western countries is that Russia currently has the largest number of soldiers with experience in high-intensity combat operations. At the same time, Western armies have purely theoretical training and have so far fought only against much weaker opponents.
“Russia is suffering heavy losses, but manages to allow more and more soldiers to gain combat experience,” Reisner said.
He believes that the lessons of the Ukrainian war have not yet reached Western armies.
“To this should be added the still prevailing opinion that Russian soldiers fight in a completely amateurish manner,” Reisner noted.
“Underestimating the enemy is the biggest mistake in combat. There can be an unpleasant surprise here,” the colonel emphasized.
He pointed out that the West significantly reduced the level of support for Ukraine, and Russia has great opportunities.
“On the entire front line, there is a noticeable strengthening of Russian offensives. Further redeployments of troops are also taking place,” Reisner noted.
On December 11, during a press conference in Berlin, German Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz stated that EU countries should continue to provide aid to Ukraine, thus making it clear to Russian President Vladimir Putin that the West is not going to retreat.
Scholz expressed confidence that the conflict in Ukraine will continue for a long time. He believes that Russian President Vladimir Putin is counting on the West to help Ukraine less and less over time.
Source: Rossa Primavera News Agency
