Russian leadership in Ukraine 'increasingly dysfunctional'

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) says Russian forces in Ukraine are suffering from 'dysfunctional' leadership.

Poor lower-level leadership, it says, is likely worsening the low morale and poor cohesion in many parts of the Russian force.

The MOD explained: "At the tactical level, there is almost certainly a worsening shortage of capable Russian junior officers to organise and lead newly mobilised reservists.

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"Four of the five generals with direct operational command of elements of the invasion in February 2022 have now been dismissed. Their replacements have so far done little to improve Russia’s battlefield performance."

This lack of continuity, the MOD says, will hinder Russian forces more than it would in western militaries, due to Russian military doctrine in which the commander personally takes responsibility for the development of plans, rather than a "collective effort across a broader staff".

It comes as a western official, speaking anonymously to discuss intelligence, said Russia is pursuing a strategy of "attempting to destroy Ukraine's electricity network" with long-range strikes which are causing civilian casualties rather than degrading its military.

The official said Iranian-made Shahed drones "are playing an increasingly significant role, although we can see that Ukraine is effectively neutralising many of them before they hit their targets".

In a televised address on Monday night, Mr Zelensky said Russia is using the drones because it is losing ground in the war.

"Russia doesn't have any chance on the battlefield and it tries to compensate for its military defeats with terror," he said. "Why this terror? To put pressure on us, on Europe, on the entire world."