March 6th 2023.
Officials in the UK have reported that Russian forces are now utilizing shovels as weapons due to ammunition shortages. It is believed that these shovels are being employed for close combat. A reservist indicated that the troops were not mentally and physically ready for the action.
The MPL-50 shovels, designed in 1869, serve as an example of how the war has become "brutal and low-tech". Additionally, there is evidence that suggests an increase in close combat. This is attributed to the Russian command's insistence on offensive tactics that lack artillery fire support due to ammunition shortages.
On Monday, the Ministry of Defence reported that the Russian military had deployed T-62 main battle tanks that are over 60 years old. This was done in response to losses of heavy armoured vehicles. However, the vintage tanks have vulnerabilities that include a lack of modern explosive reactive armour.
Analysts have noted that Putin has not acknowledged the first anniversary of the invasion as the objectives have not been achieved. GCHQ intelligence agency head, Sir Jeremy Fleming, had previously warned that the Kremlin still has a "very capable military machine". Meanwhile, Russia's foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, has claimed that Russia is the victim of the war.
Officials have reported that Russian forces are resorting to employing shovels as weapons as ammunition supplies start to wane. Troops have been ordered to assault opponents armed just with ‘firearms and shovels’ at a Ukrainian strongpoint last month, an update from the Ministry of Defence declared Sunday. The shovels are ‘probably entrenching tools being utilized for hand-to-hand combat’, a Defence Intelligence update from Sunday stated. But one reservist has reported how they were ‘neither physically nor psychologically’ ready for the action.
The MPL-50 shovels, designed in 1869, being utilized as weapons ‘highlights the brutal and low-tech fighting which has become part of the character of the war’, officials said. The MoD update furthermore pointed to facts suggesting an ‘increase in close combat in Ukraine’.
‘This is likely a consequence of the Russian command still insisting on offensive action mainly consisting of dismounted infantry – with less assistance from artillery fire because Russia is short on munitions.’ An additional update on Monday said the Russian military had deployed 60-year-old T-62 main battle tanks in reaction to ‘heavy armoured vehicle losses’.
The ‘vintage’ vehicles could expose ‘weaknesses’ on the modern battlefield – such as a lack of ‘modern explosive reactive armour’, the MoD update cautioned. It has been said that Russia has been running out of weapons, troops and allies since last October as Vladimir Putin's attempt to take control of Kyiv did not go to plan. Nonetheless, GCHQ intelligence agency boss, Sir Jeremy Fleming, at the time cautioned that the Kremlin still boasts a ‘very capable military machine’.
Last week Russia’s foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, maintained his nation is the victim in the war during a political conference – prompting the audience to laugh. But a pundit on Russian state TV left guests stunned after suggesting the country needed to accept that they could lose the conflict – which has now been going on for more than a year.
(Image Source: https://metro.co.uk) Putin ignored the first anniversary of his invasion because it has not attained any of its objectives, analysts said.
(Image Source: https://metro.co.uk)
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