Keir Giles

In this short monograph authors give an overview of the Russian military reforms from Georgian 2008 war 'til 2014. After deficiencies from 2008 war were identified, Russian military started with the series of reforms, not just related to technical side (newer equipment) but also organizational (restructuring from divisions and corps/fronts/armies into smaller brigades) and slow orientation from mass conflict against NATO to low intensity or limited high-intensity wars on its southern borders.

Lots of Russian sources are mentioned (although I have to note here that while some are Russian sources (as in actually from Russia), others seem to be Russians living in West and working in Western think-tanks) and level of reorganization is looked at through the lens of actual changes, not publicly mentioned information (which authors clearly note are always fuzzy and not completely reliable - which again makes sense considering that defense matters are not something that is ever publicly disclosed in full).

Considering the sanctions imposed at the time and general reform timeline (book was published in 2014, Russian reform plans were up to 2020/21) it was noted that some of the ambitious plans might not be achieved in the given time-frame but that new Russian army definitely left Soviet organization and started to look more like modern armed forces (when compared to the West).

Unfortunately myopia when it comes to political realities is present in this book too. It is unfathomable to me that analysis of the opponent (and again, let us not fool ourselves, with all the talks NATO never left the notion that Russia is an opponent) fails to acknowledge suspicion and tension Russia feels when it comes to its western border or strategic locations like Black Sea, all within several hundred miles of Russian capital. I can understand the media being sensationalist and pompous but these monographs are meant for the professionals in the field and I do not understand constant tirade of Russia's perceived threats. If it is perceived, it is real and no manner of sweet talk wont make it less real or ridiculous.

Constant downplaying of the issues at hand brought the world to where it is now - Russia has shown that it is capable of large scale mobilization and it now sees the need to have larger (no more small fire-brigade level) units for high intensity warfare ready on its western border. In other words West managed to transform Russian military, through war, bloodiest possible trial, into the war machine West was constantly mentioning Russian military is (although monographs like this prove that was not the case).

Interesting book, although not that contemporary any more.… (lisätietoja)

I expect to see a flurry of one and two star reviews for this book from Putin's army of monkeys with typewriters. Ignore them. This book is written by Keir Giles, who is a Senior Consulting Fellow for the Russia and Eurasia Programme at Chatham House. He speaks with authority on the topic of Russia's world-view and goals and the risks we all are facing because we don't take the malevolence of the Russian Federation seriously enough.

Giles shows how Russia uses the west's openness, innate decency and democracy as tools to destroy those very things. Russia's antipathy to the west is all encompassing, as is Putin's ruthlessness. No enemy is too small to destroy, nor too big. This book will shock and inform you. I urge you to read it.

If you think the current war is just about Ukraine, you need to read this book.
If you think the road to peace is negotiation, you need to read this book.… (lisätietoja)