Putin's Ukraine gambit

 Rebekah Koffler:

Last week, Russia announced that it will make "major changes" to strengthen its armed forces’ during the 2023-2026 time period, a sign that Moscow is recasting its approach in Ukraine. Vladimir Putin’s new strategy is focused on fighting a large-scale war rather than a "special military operation." Here’s why this change will likely result in a permanent conflict in the European theater.

Russia and US-led NATO -- a proxy party to the war -- view each other as their respective top security threats. Biden’s current National Security Strategy describes Russia as an "immediate threat." Russia’s post-Soviet military doctrine has codified NATO as the "primary danger."

Ukraine is the buffer state that each side seeks to rely on in the event of a direct NATO vs. Russia war. Trading territory for enemy’s blood to protect the heartland is the essence of this approach. It is why the question of control over Ukraine has been festering since the collapse of the U.S.S.R. in 1991, and it is where the balance of power in Eurasia has been contested for centuries.

Having won the Cold War, the U.S. has been incorporating Ukraine into the Western orbit, allowing the U.S. and Europe to reduce their military posture in Europe. Ukrainians are valiantly fighting the Russians, having sacrificed thousands of military personnel and 20,000 to 40,000 civilians to death or injury to hold the line, while the majority of NATO countries, 22 of 30, fail to contribute the required two percent of GDP towards common defense. Washington views the arming of Ukraine as a sound investment to bleed the Russian military.

Russia, which has been invaded three times in the last 200 years and has seen its buffer zone with NATO reduced to as little as 100 miles, after the Baltic states joined NATO in 2004, has drawn a red line over Ukraine.

Moscow views NATO expansion into Ukraine in the same way as if a Russia-lead Collective Security Treaty Organization moved into Mexico. In other words, the outcome of this war is existential for Putin, who is determined to keep Ukraine away from NATO, even if he has to destroy it.

Putin believes his ultimate fear of having to fight a conventional war with NATO is becoming reality. The arrival of 100 Ukrainian troops in Oklahoma to train on the Patriot missile defense system and the Pentagon’s commitment to provide 50 Bradley Fighting Vehicles to Kyiv is taking the conflict to a new level.

Putin is moving to an all-out war strategy, developed on his orders after the Russian military strategists forecast a direct confrontation with NATO a decade ago.

In anticipation of retaliation by Ukraine and possibly NATO to his massive escalation in the theater, Putin is fortifying Moscow, to protect himself, his family, and the Russian elites.

Pantsir anti-aircraft systems were reportedly installed on several rooftops in central Moscow, including near the Kremlin, on top of the ministry of defense building, and near Putin’s Valdai residence in Russia’s Novgorod region. The system is placed on combat alert.

On December 22nd, Putin, for the very first time, referred to the conflict in Ukraine, as war, rather than a "special military operation." Fighting a large-scale war, based on the Russian military doctrine, is a different animal than a "special operation." It involves a lot more personnel, new generation weapons, and cyber and space warfare capabilities. Russia believes what it views as America’s low tolerance for casualties and reliance on technology as vulnerabilities.

On December 21, Russia’s Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu announced a plan to beef up Russia’s military from 1 to 1.5 million. Towards this goal, Russia is adding half-a-million conscripts, according to Ukraine’s defense intelligence, to the previously mobilized 315,000 additional soldiers.

Last week, Shoigu emphasized Russia’s goal to augment, naval, aerospace, and nuclear forces, in order "to guarantee the military security of the state." Earlier, Putin also assigned the chief of the military general staff, Valeriy Gerasimov, to lead combat operations in Ukraine, a notable move as Gerasimov is the author of a special anti-U.S. doctrine.

Putin, consistent with Russian warfare traditions, is preparing for a long-term war of attrition. Russia’s way of winning wars is relentless attrition of manpower. It is how Russia has fought every war for centuries – throwing millions into the meat-grinder to prevail.

The Russians sacrificed 25 million lives in World War II and their current losses are approximately 100,000. Given Russia’s population of 143 million, there’s a lot more bleeding that lies ahead before Washington could reach its goals of Ukrainian victory and weakening Russia.

The upcoming admission of Sweden and Finland into NATO will create a permanent flashpoint in the region. Contrary to Washington’s belief, this move is more likely to further destabilize Europe than bring peace.

Russia shares an 832-mile border with Finland. These two countries’ acceptance into the alliance will automatically double the border between NATO and Russia, from around 750 miles to about 1,600, exacerbating Russia’s security worries.

... 

I have seen no evidence that Ukraine was ever a threat to invade Russia.  But Putin is apparently paranoid about Ukraine joining NATO which is a defense alliance.  Putin's paranoia is likely responsible for the eagerness of Russia's neighbors to join NATO.   One of the reasons Putin is trying to grow his military is that the war in Ukraine has exposed how weak Russia was.  While his losses are not on the level of World War II, his military has failed to achieve his original objective of controlling all of Ukraine in a matter of weeks.  Russia does not have an economy at this point to sustain a long war with the West.  It also does not have a well-trained army at this point.  It is throwing poorly trained conscripts into the Ukraine fight along with convicts from its prison system.

There is also no evidence that anyone in NATO wants to conquer or occupy Russia.  That would only happen if Russia attacks a NATO country.