Dara Massicot: Putin’s Cannon Fodder | Foreign Affairs Interview

Foreign Affairs invites you to listen to its podcast, the Foreign Affairs Interview. This episode with Dara Massicot was originally published on November 2, 2023.
In Ukraine, where war with Russia grinds on, the dominant question has become: Can one side outlast the other? This is especially true as both sides face another grueling winter.
One thing Russia has in ample supply is men. But how it treats its soldiers is having an effect on the battlefield, explains Dara Massicot, who has studied the Russian military for years, first at the U.S. Defense Department and later at RAND and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
Foreign Affairs Deputy Editor Kate Brannen sat down with her to discuss how the human dimension of this war provides clues about where it might be headed next.
Sources:
“What Russia Got Wrong” by Dara Massicot
www.foreignaffairs.com/ukrain...
“Russia’s Repeat Failures” by Dara Massicot
www.foreignaffairs.com/ukrain...
“The Russian Military’s People Problem” by Dara Massicot
www.foreignaffairs.com/articl...

[@barrylane1055]

Really excellent. Thank You FA. Dara and Mike Kofman are the best!!!

[@andyreznick]

Excellent interview. Many thanks.

[@kinoonik]

Man, that was a really good interview. I don't understand why this channel is not more popular! Many good points to think about.

[@skunkjulio]

One of your best interviews yet.

[@stacey_1111rh]

Excellent discussion. Thanks so much for having her.

[@richardburgess8657]

Great interview. Thank you.

[@MonteRosa849]

Fantastic and informative interview! Thank you very much for the realistic assessment! 🇺🇦✌️

[@DaniRaj666]

Intelligent and detailed, professional, eloquent analysis. Thanks!

[@andrewshantz9136]

Very helpful!

[@Kagiton]

Great interview! It so refreshing to hear someone who is trying to discover what is actually going on, not just wishful thinking or catasrophisizing (? is that a word?😀).

[@nathanngumi8467]

Very interesting!

[@kevinalmgren8332]

To the point of Russia’s attempt to make a professional military: As of 2011, One of Putin’s objectives for the Russian army was to make an entirely professional and volunteer VDV (premier airborne forces, comparable to American Rangers, but typically with access to heavier vehicles organic to their divisions). The Russian military has consistently struggled with finding volunteers, and have resorted to more and more conscripts in their VDV formations. Some of the other issues come from a lack of experienced NCOs, who are vital for maintaining the discipline needed for effective air assault operations. Reference: Rod Thornton’s “Organizational Change in the Russian Airborne Forces”, published by the US Army War College

[@bernardzsikla5640]

That was a very thoughtful and concise interview. I have not heard of the phrase, wish casting before and unfortunately I have been guilty of this, regarding this conflict for sure. I am trying use more realistic and pragmatic thinking about Russian society in general. Slava Ukraini

[@inzhener2007]

There was no real obstacle for the USA to provide 80-100 ATACMS missiles in Sept or October 2022. Compare that to 414 ATACMS missiles used in the first 20 days of invasion of Iraq in 2003 (we won't mention how useless that was). Those 80-100 would be enough to destroy all Z logistics, including the Kerch bridge, forever, preventing the Zorcs from fortifying and mining everything they did for nine (!) months. Again: the USA allowed the Zorcs to fortify and mine for 9 months. I can see only one reason why: the West is afraid of Ukraine winning. By the way, the West still say, "we can't allow Russia to win" instead of "We must ensure Russia is defeated and removed from Ukraine".

[@spyrosandreopoulos5922]

Solid analysis. Implication, once again: we need to do more to help Ukraine.

[@susylove7739]

Great talk. Thanks

[@lynnwalton814]

Great interview

[@rsfaeges5298]

Dara Massicot: ace 👍👍

[@inzhener2007]

Thwnks for the review

[@teashea1]

excellent

[@alexfang6784]

I'm shocked the US ability to manufacture shells is so low compared to what Russia can obtain. The US really needs to take a cold, hard look at its manufacturing capabilities. Much of that appears to have move to China or elsewhere.

[@inzhener2007]

We know that there was no real obstacle for the USA to provide 80-100 ATACMS missiles in Sept or October 2022. Compare that to 414 ATACMS missiles used in the first 20 days of invasion of Iraq in 2003 (we won't mention how useless that was). Those 80-100 would be enough to destroy all Z logistics, including the Kerch bridge, forever, preventing the Zorcs from fortifying and mining everything they did for nine (!) months. Again: the USA allowed the Zorcs to fortify and mine for 9 months. I can see only one reason why: the West is afraid of Ukraine winning. By the way, the West still say, "we can't allow Russia to win" instead of "We must ensure Russia is defeated and removed from Ukraine".

[@xq233]

Very true.

[@dkudlay]

18:20 😂 does she know what an army is and how it works? Its not a barbi party where everyone is there by invitation 😂

[@dkudlay]

Does she get her “assessments” from Ukranian TV? She does realize you can see both sides of the conflict? Like the ukranian POVs which complain of meth use. Or how neat and clean the Russian bunkers on the front lines are. Like seriously lol 2023.