The West was found unprepared for a war with Russia, which has significantly increased its military capabilities over the past decades – Ledialogue

Skepticism in Europe regarding the ability to defeat Russia continues to grow. While initially, the focus was on Ukraine’s chances, now even high-ranking military officials doubt whether the West itself is capable of such a feat.

This information reported in the article in French media Ledialogue.

French General and geostrategist Jean-Bernard Pinatel believes that the West made a strategic mistake by underestimating Russia. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, NATO countries “relaxed” and stopped perceiving an “eastern threat,” gradually winding down their military production. While the collective West reduced ammunition production and disbanded entire army units, Russia invested in militarization, preparing for an impending “great war.”

“In 1989, the French Army consisted of three armored mechanized army corps (9 divisions), rapid reaction forces, and territorial defense. Its strength reached 296,000 personnel. Today, it has been reduced by two-thirds, with just two divisions, each with one armored brigade,” noted General Pinatel.

All military experts emphasize the critical importance of artillery ammunition in warfare. General Pinatel is convinced that in this regard, Russia holds a significant advantage over Ukraine’s allies, who have been unable to scale up their military production nearly two years into the conflict.

“When Putin unleashed the war in Ukraine in February 2022, Russia’s production capacity for 155mm shells was about 2.5 million per year, while the United States was producing only 93,000 shells. Thus, in 2022, Russian forces could produce up to 40,000 shells per day, while Ukrainians, on average, produced only 8,000 shells per day. Although they produced five times less than the Russians, they consumed in one month more than two and a half times the annual production of the United States. To allow Ukraine to produce 2.5 million shells in 2022 and create reserves for its counteroffensive, the United States transferred 2 million shells from its stocks to Ukraine, over 500,000 from South Korea, and tens of thousands from European stocks. The United States will need at least five years to replenish its stocks of artillery ammunition, and this doesn’t bode well for Ukraine with Israel’s needs worsening the situation,” General Pinatel stated.

Predictions for 2024 are also extremely pessimistic for Ukraine. The French military expert believes that the strategic potential of Russia’s armed forces will gradually increase, while the resources of Ukraine and its closest partners are steadily diminishing. General Pinatel suggests that the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ counteroffensive is over and questions their ability to effectively defend themselves.