Darkness, strong winds, snowfall: British intelligence reports that the cold season could pose a unique challenge for the Russian military. The winter will not only further reduce troop morale. The weather also has a major influence on war tactics.
According to British estimates, the upcoming winter will have a significant impact on the fighting in Ukraine. "Changes in daylight hours, temperature and weather present unique challenges for combatants," the Ministry of Defense said in a statement. "Any decisions made by the Russian General Staff will depend in part on the onset of winter."
Because daylight hours are significantly decreasing, there will be fewer offensives and more static defensive lines. The winter conditions, with more rain and strong winds and snowfall, led to cold injuries and would pose additional challenges to the already low morale of the Russian armed forces, the ministry said. They also posed problems for the maintenance of the equipment. "Basic exercises such as cleaning weapons must be adapted to the circumstances, and the risk of weapon malfunctions increases," said London. At the same time, the authority emphasized that Ukrainian soldiers were also affected by the conditions.
Ever since Russian President Vladimir Putin announced "partial mobilization" in September, numerous reports have been circulating on the Internet about Russian soldiers being inadequately equipped. In Russian independent media, conscripts say they bought army boots for the winter with their own money. Sometimes there aren't even helmets or weapons, and the soldiers sometimes had to get their own sleeping bags or medicine.
The British Ministry of Defense has published daily information on the course of the war since the beginning of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine at the end of February, citing intelligence information. In doing so, the British government wants to both counter the Russian portrayal and keep allies in line. Moscow accuses London of a disinformation campaign.
