Morale Problem? Do Russian Forces Want This Fight?

By Kris Osborn – President & Editor-In-Chief, Warrior Maven

Russian armored vehicles are being incinerated and destroyed by determined Ukrainian fighters, the much discussed Russian “convoy” has been bogged down for months with fuel and supply problems and many question the fundamental ability of the Russian military to conduct a Combined Arms Maneuver land-war operation.

Russian Forces Morale

Alongside all of these factors, perhaps Russian soldiers just don’t want to fight? What are they fighting for? Do they have a “will” or actual “desire” to occupy Ukraine and kill and subjugate its people, many of whom share a common ethnic history. “

While stopping short of offering large amounts of detail and instead referring to the numerous “anecdotal” reports regarding Russian soldiers, Pentagon officials specifically say the Russians are having “morale problems.”

“They are having morale problems. They are having supply problems. They are having fuel problems. They’re having food problems. They are meeting a very stiff and determined Ukrainian resistance,” Pentagon spokesman John Kirby told reporters, according to a DoD transcript.

Some of the many anecdotal reports have suggested that perhaps Russian soldiers are controlled by fear of consequences should they speak out. It is certainly possible that of them are quite likely to quietly or privately “disagree” with or at least question Putin’s war effort. 

One must hope for some measure of humanity, when blind obedience to a dictator instructs or tries to force soldiers into murdering children. Do Russian soldiers firing 300 mile missiles from mobile launchers into civilian areas believe in their mission?

Will to fight seems to be one of those somewhat “ineffable” yet highly impactful variables likely to influence, if not determine outcome in war.