Quote (ofthevoid @ Dec 15 2022 06:55pm)
If you say someone is running low on something yet they continue to use it, month after month then it becomes meaningless to say. They are still using missiles to this day. They are still striking high value targets with these missiles to this day, Ukraine is a massive country, it would be near impossible to know and find all high value targets and hit them. I don't need to reference Russian news or whatever because I can just look at this reality and deduce.
When we invaded Iraq, we first pummeled them with Tomahawks then reduced their usage significantly, although there were still many targets I'm sure we'd still want to liquidate. The reduction of reliance on Tomahawks wasn't indicative that we were running out of them, it just meant that leaders thought other tactics are now more appropriate. Maybe because of cost, maybe because of other reasons.
But back to this scenario, using drones more than missiles =/= they are running low or out of them, that could be part of it but in reality they probably prefer to save money and deploy cheaper options that are comparably effective.
I agree with a lot of what you are saying, although it doesn't disprove the suggestion Russia is low on precision weapons.
I'm also factoring in the sanctions that will affect Russia mobilizing their manufacturing of certain munitions, up to a point that could replenish what they have already used.
NATO countries are reporting having placed new orders of precision weapons like javelins or MLAW's, due to the stockpile of those weapons greatly decreasing. It would be reasonable to assume Russia is facing a similar shortage of such weapons, if not more severe when taking into consideration; the performance of the Russia army so far in Ukraine in comparison to the NATO invasion of Iraq for example, Russia's reliance on "dumb" artillery weapons, as opposed to "smart" precision weapons in its military doctrine, Russia's isolation due to sanctions.
I agree the over use of "Russia running out of missiles" has watered down the impact of making that statement. Russia definitely still has precision missiles. Is it reasonable to assume they have far less than at the beginning of the war, and that is affecting the current Russia capabilities and tactics? Yes, it is.
I believe we can see Russia attacking civilian infrastructure is an outcome of Russia being on the backfoot in the traditional military sense. Perhaps a shortage of precision missiles is a factor in that outcome.
Quote (Djunior @ Dec 15 2022 07:18pm)
Russia was running out of missiles back in April ;)
In April, not in my opinion. Now is a different story.
I could say to you that the Russian constitution says Kherson region is part of the Russian federation.
Is Kherson under Russian control?
This post was edited by Prox1m1ty on Dec 15 2022 01:27pm