Russia’s military problems in Ukraine could be America’s in the Pacific

Western observers of Russia’s failure in Ukraine will likely soon begin to argue that Moscow’s inefficiency reduces Washington’s need to rebuild the US military. But Russia’s failure is due to logistical problems, and the US military’s capabilities, like Russia’s, are unprepared for a major struggle with a world power.

The Russian military hasn’t invested enough in logistics, although it has spent big bucks on the polished hardware seen at military parades. The Russian military, like its Soviet predecessor, remains conscripted and lacks enough professional NCOs to maintain equipment, nor enough officers trained in logistics. In combat, there’s a big difference between a military driver with three years of training and an 18-year-old conscript with a driver’s license. The Russians expected Ukraine to collapse, but logistical incompetence prevented Russia from supporting multiple fronts at once. Russia has now withdrawn its bloodied forces from north-eastern Ukraine towards the Donbass, leaving behind a significant amount of armor and artillery.