Command changes are causing chaos in Putin’s army

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Those who reach the top of the Russian army usually do not stay there for long. After Russia invaded Ukraine, the Kremlin repeatedly caused commotion. President Vladimir Putin (70) exchanges his commanders-in-chief at increasingly shorter intervals.

Just a few days ago, Putin fired Russia’s Deputy Defense Minister for Logistics Mikhail Mizintsev (59) – known as the “Butcher of Mariupol”. Misintsev was only promoted to this position in November. Now he’s gone again.

The American think tank Institute for the Study of War (ISW) shows in a new analysis how often Putin has already replaced his army command. The experts also analyze the effects of the constant exchange on the soldiers at the front.

The conclusion is clear: “The regular changes of command have led to an increasingly fragmented Russian armed forces,” writes the ISW. “This seriously hampers the army’s ability to conduct a coherent campaign in Ukraine.”

Putin wants success for himself

The Russian military lacked a clear chain of command from the start of the war, ISW experts continue to analyze. Putin was hesitant to appoint a commander-in-chief. Sometimes he even tried to take command himself. But that was doomed to fail.

Because: Putin believed that Kiev would fall in a few days. So the Kremlin chief could have taken the fall of Ukraine for himself. “Putin may not want quick success attributed to a military commander – not him,” the ISW said.

Then he tried to right his mistake – and kept exchanging people. The military experts write that this has led to chaos within the army.

But even political hardliners in the military have failed to achieve any particular successes in Ukraine in recent months. The balance of the ISW: “The constant exchange of military leadership makes it even more difficult to fight a successful war.”

Source: Blick