Estonia’s top military commander said fresh intelligence on Russia’s ability to produce ammunition and recruit troops has prompted a re-evaluation among NATO allies and a spate of warnings to prepare for a long-term conflict.

Martin Herem, the commander of the Estonian Defense Forces, said predictions that Russian forces would reach the limits of their resources haven’t come true. President Vladimir Putin’s military has the capacity to produce several million artillery shells a year, far outstripping European efforts, and can recruit hundreds of thousands of new troops, he said.

The general from Estonia, which shares a nearly 300-kilometer (186-mile) border with Russia, joins a growing number of North Atlantic Treaty Organization military chiefs who have warned over the past month that the alliance should prepare for a war footing with the Kremlin. Herem referenced an earlier estimate that Russia could produce a million artillery shells a year.

“A lot of people thought they couldn’t go beyond that — today, the facts tell us otherwise,” Herem said in an interview in Tallinn. “They can produce even more — many times more — ammunition.”

Non-paywall link

  • QuinceDaPence@kbin.social
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    10 months ago

    I was thinking the same thing.

    If we were to actually get involved, kick it off with an A-10 singing the song of it’s people, and eliminate all russian forces in Ukraine in no greater than 24 hours.

    If you’re not willing to do that then just stay home, we’ve seen how the ‘slow war’ style goes.

    • Zron@lemmy.world
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      10 months ago

      The A10 has a track record of friendly fire.

      I don’t think it’s a wise use of resources to give the Ukrainians a bunch of tanks, only to send a tank killer aircraft that’s known for killing friendly vehicles because of old ass targeting systems.

      • cynar@lemmy.world
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        10 months ago

        I’m reminded of a WWII slogan.

        When the English bomb, the Germans run.

        When the Germans bomb, the English run.

        When the Americans bomb, Everybody runs!

        The Americans particularly have a checkered history of joint operations. They seem to have a shoot first, identify the target later mentality.