Unpacking how Russia's century-old playbook keeps them competitive in Ukraine

They have been provided with specific cries of battle in handbooks covering combat techniques.

Remarkably, Russian soldiers are instructed to boldly charge at enemy positions, launching grenades or firing their weapons and loudly yelling "Ura! Ura!". The handbook's authors seemingly admire Russian exploits from several decades ago, whether in the assault on Poland or during the late stage of World War II.

Since the Russian army's tactics have remained largely unchanged over the past hundred years, soldiers' lives continue to be undervalued. They are often sent into battle with an expectation of almost sure fatality, as can be observed in the battles at Bahmut or Avdiivka. Commanders still require infantry to rush headlong into the carnage with an enthusiastic cry of "Ura!".

In some instances, these methods prove effective, as demonstrated by an ongoing war for nearly two years now.

The current state of the Russian army leaves much to be desired, with rampant chaos and corruption, and widespread violence towards soldiers, not to mention common issues of alcohol and drug abuse. However, Russia's vast human and economic potential allows it to compensate for insufficient training and preparation of combat units. This is exactly the situation unfolding in Ukraine today.

Despite the pitiable state of Vladimir Putin's army, it manages to maintain a hold at the front.

Front-line units dispatched to battle directly from the draft are one aspect. These soldiers receive only two weeks of training - likely from the aforementioned handbook - and are poorly equipped, demotivated, and intimidated.

In contrast, the role of "mobiks" is to attack, weaken Ukrainian forces, and die on the battlefield.

Then, there are the well-equipped, well-trained, and battle-hardened specialist units comprising artillery, aviation, reconnaissance, and paratroopers. These units make use of modern equipment (like drones), are well-prepared for combat, and have inflicted serious damage on the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Without them, maintaining the front line during the fall would have been impossible.

It remains unknown if these higher-ranking commanders are also instructed to shout "Ura!", but on the front, they are doing quite well. And this fact should not be overlooked, as Russia still stands a chance to win this war.