Russia likely to cancel this year's ZAPAD exercises – UK Intelligence
Moscow may have cancelled the next ZAPAD (West) exercises due to a lack of personnel and equipment, as well as concerns about criticism.
Source: UK Ministry of Defence review dated 28 August on Twitter, as reported by European Pravda
Details: The review states that Russia has most likely cancelled the so-called ZAPAD joint strategic exercises, which were supposed to be the conclusion of the annual cycle of military exercises. The manoeuvres were to take place in September 2023.
UK Defence Intelligence recalls that in the period after 2010, "joint strategic exercises" took place alternately in different regions of Russia, but since 2021 have become more frequent in the western region, demonstrating that the priority is "confronting what it perceives as the threat from NATO".
Quote: "The Russian military’s under-performance in Ukraine has highlighted how JSEs [joint strategic exercises – ed.] have had limited training value and have largely been for show. Russia has likely cancelled ZAPAD 23 because too few troops and equipment are available. There is a realistic possibility that the Russian leadership is also sensitive to domestic criticism liable from running another slickly presented JSE during wartime," UK Defence Intelligence notes.
Background:
- In the previous review, it was reported that Ukraine and Russia are fighting for strategically important gas and oil platforms in the Black Sea, the so-called Boyko towers.
- In addition, UK Defence Intelligence suggested that in the coming months, the Russian command will intensify its offensive in the areas of Kupiansk and Lyman.
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