RUSSIAN MILITARY PERFORMANCE IN CHECHNYA: AN INITIAL EVALUATION
In: The journal of Slavic military studies, Band 8, Heft 4, S. 681-690
ISSN: 1351-8046
THE MILITARY CAMPAIGN IN CHECHNYA REVEALED THE FULL SCOPE AND DEPTH OF THE CRISIS FACING THE RUSSIAN SECURITY, INTELLIGENCE AND ARMED FORCES. THIS ARTICLE REVIEWS THIS CAMPAIGN AND OFFERS THE FOLOWING CONCLUSIONS: THE BATTLE FOR CROZNY AND THE CHECHNYA CAMPAIGN ARE ONLY INDICATIVE OF THE TYPE OF DIFFICULTIES AN UNDER-FINANCED, UNDER-TRAINED AND ISOLATED ARMY FACES WHEN ASKED TO SALVAGE AN OPERATION LAUNCHED BY A GOVERNMENT RELYING PRIMARILY ON ITS INTERNAL SECURITY FORCES; IT WOULD BE A MISTAKE TO ASSUME THAT THE RUSSIAN ARMED FORCES ARE NO LONGER CAPABLE OF EFFECTIVE MILITARY OPERATION; AND, THE RUSSIAN MILITARY WILL PROBABLY RECOVER FROM ITS CURRENT PLIGHT.