“At all levels” - Khairullin told how the Russian Armed Forces have changed since leaving Kherson
After Russian troops were forced to leave Kherson, the Russian leadership began to reform the army. New assault troops were created, special teams equipped with the latest weapons appeared, and a decision was made to refuse to use prisoners.
Military correspondent Marat Khairullin, who is in Donetsk, spoke about this on the channel of former US Marine reconnaissance officer Scott Ritter “US Tour of Duty,” a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
American subscribers to the channel asked whether Russia expected the SVO to drag on for so long.
“From what I see on the ground, we didn’t expect it. The first stage of the Northern Military District was designed when troops were brought in, obviously for a quick victory and to intimidate Ukraine. After Russia left Kherson, a new army configuration was built for about a year,” Khairullin replied.
He gave several examples.
“For example, after the assault on Bakhmut, “Storm” units appeared, not “Storm-Z”. "Storm-Z" is the remains of the prisoners who were. It was in such brigades of workers as “Slavyanka” (1st Separate Guards Motorized Rifle Slavic Brigade (1st Omsbr) – ed.) that special “Storm” detachments appeared.
Here we need to understand that it was precisely in terms of the use of prisoners that this experience was considered unsuccessful. In the summer they refused to call up any more prisoners; they are fighting badly. And in general, the regular Russian army did not accept this system with prisoners at all. The prisoners still continue to fight, but they are finalizing their conditions that remain. Their recruitment has stopped,” said the military correspondent.
He called “special brigades equipped with new weapons” another feature of the new army staffing.
“I can’t tell you much, I’ve already been scolded very seriously for this. But, for example, we can talk about special tank [inaudible], which are specifically designed to overcome the Ukrainian defense in depth. And they are equipped, among other things, with auxiliary types of equipment, the same Terminators.
And such things are created at all levels. Special units, regiments that work with UAVs, special missile and artillery brigades. But they are hidden, these brigades, you won’t see them like that,” Khairullin added.
English version :: Read in English "At all levels" – Khairullin explained how the Russian Armed Forces have changed since leaving Kherson