The author of the opinion, Jacques Schuster, is the editor-in-chief of “Welt am Sonntag”.
One can only congratulate Ukraine on the successful attack on the port of St. Petersburg. At a moment when Russia and the world were paying attention to the annual economic forum in Putin's hometown, Kiev managed to show the international community, through a black cloud of smoke and a hit corvette, how vulnerable this vast empire had become, even far from the front lines.
Apart from the propaganda success, the attacks on oil refineries and ports are another step towards increasing the costs of the war for Russia in such a way that perhaps one day it will decide to start serious talks with Kiev.
However, there is not much reason for optimism.
Russian President Vladimir Putin cannot afford to fail. The head of the Kremlin will rather try to hide Russian weakness through even more violent attacks on the Ukrainian civilian population.
Even if the United States under President Donald Trump were ready to deliver new Patriot missiles, i.e. air defense systems, to Ukraine, the delivery would not take place. In the war with Iran, America simply exhausted its own supplies. Washington cannot afford to give up what is left.
War of attrition is a Russian specialty
And Russian soldiers? More and more often we read about the disastrous condition of the Russian army – and rightly so. Except it's always been like that! And this has not bothered any despot since Peter the Great.
Russia is indeed the first country to introduce military conscription as a permanent method of building its armed forces. This happened in 1705 with the so-called riekrutchina; However, this did not lead to a change in awareness and greater humanity in the treatment of citizens in uniform.
In addition to the brutality of warfare, Russian military tradition also includes inhumane and poor army equipment.
The inspector's complaint from 1729 that the state had not issued shoes, socks or shirts to the dragoons of Kargopol for three years, that saber belts were falling apart, and that starving cavalrymen sometimes ate their horses, could easily be applied to the present day. Like the wonderfully malicious descriptions of the satirist Vladimir Voynovich.
The article continues below the video
In his novel “The Life and Extraordinary Adventures of Soldier Ivan Chonkin” from 1970, the author settles accounts with the Soviet army and tells how this Red Army soldier Chonkin was sent to a remote village to madly guard a crashed plane. There he remains on guard until the army forgets about him and he finally marries a peasant woman and becomes a happy farmer.
Russia has always tried to build its imperial power at the expense of its exhausted army and, when necessary, has always resorted to the greatest possible brutality.
The first Westerner to notice this was Napoleon. After his defeat in Moscow, the defeated man shouted: “This is a war of attrition, a terrible tactic, the likes of which history has never known before. Burning their own cities! These people are possessed by the devil! What terrifying determination! What a nation! What a nation!”
Of course, Napoleon's observation does not mean that Russia cannot be defeated. However, it will not be easy, if at all possible.
I’m Ashley Davis as an editor, I’m committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and accuracy in every piece we publish. My work is driven by curiosity, a passion for truth, and a belief that journalism plays a crucial role in shaping public discourse. I strive to tell stories that not only inform but also inspire action and conversation.
