Soviet-era maps from the 1970s and misfiring guns are behind Russia’s slow invasion of Ukraine, Western experts claim
- Russia’s progress in Donbass is so slow because of outdated maps from the 1970s
- Western officials added that they are taking territory at a rate of just half a mile per day
- Missiles miss their target, endangering more civilians
- Britain sends war crimes experts to help investigate alleged Russian atrocities
Russian forces are advancing at a snail’s pace in Ukraine as commanders’ maps are half a century old and their weapons are misfiring, Western officials said yesterday.
Clinging to the charts printed in the 1970s, frustrated Russian top executives are conquering territory at a rate of just half a mile a day.
Their intended targets will not appear on these maps as many structures were constructed more recently.
Moscow’s soldiers only have to guess where to launch rockets so rockets miss their target and endanger more civilians.
Meanwhile, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss announced yesterday that Britain would send war crimes experts to assist the Ukrainian government in investigating Russian atrocities.
The team will support the government in Kyiv in gathering evidence and prosecuting war crimes and will involve experts in conflict-related sexual violence.
Holding the charts printed in the 1970s, frustrated Russian leaders will fear Putin (above) for taking territory at a rate of just half a mile a day
Russian forces are advancing at a snail’s pace in Ukraine as commanders’ maps are half a century old and their weapons are misfiring, Western officials said yesterday. Above: A Ukrainian soldier stands on a destroyed Russian tank
Mass graves and the bodies of civilians mowed down in the streets have been uncovered in areas like Bucha (pictured) after the Russians were forced to retreat. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss announced yesterday that Britain would send war crimes experts to assist the Ukrainian government in investigating Russian atrocities
They will arrive in neighboring Poland early next month to see how they can help. Last night, a Western official said of Moscow’s ground offensive: “Russian forces use outdated maps, some of them from the 1970s.
“So the cards don’t represent the audiences they’re trying to hit.
“Weapons are proving to be less accurate than hoped, endangering towns and villages. In some villages not a single building has survived.
“Nevertheless, Russian casualties remain greater than Ukrainian casualties, and these casualties are affecting the Russian soldiers’ will to fight.
“Russia’s tactics were crass and aggravated problems caused by political conclusions.
“So there are some introspective moments where they wonder how and why it all went wrong.”
In eastern Ukraine, where crucial battles are to be fought in the coming weeks, Russian troops outnumber Ukrainians by about three to one.
But Russia has made slow progress in its bid to seize the Luhansk and Donetsk regions, with intelligence reports showing little prospect of a major breakthrough.
Logistical problems continue to plague Moscow’s troops, although their operations are now confined to eastern Ukraine.
Will Vlad Zelenskyy score at G20?
Will Russian President Meet Ukrainian President at G20 Summit?
Vladimir Putin has accepted an invitation to the G20 summit – which could lead to a possible showdown with Ukrainian Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The Russian President’s invitation, which came as a surprise to many observers, was confirmed yesterday. He has apparently reiterated his intention to attend the high-level meetings in November.
His presence will cause significant problems for Boris Johnson and US President Joe Biden. Mr Zelensky was also invited and tweeted that he was “grateful” for Ukraine’s inclusion as it is not part of the G20 forum of the world’s most developed and emerging economies.
The summit will take place in Bali, Indonesia. Last night, the country’s President Joko Widodo said: “Indonesia wants to unite the G20. Don’t let there be a split.’