Russia’s leading airborne units have been "decimated" by fighting in Ukraine, leaving its forces unable to adequately defend the front line, western officials have disclosed.
A recent BBC Newsnight investigation found that the 331st airborne regiment, of about 600 paratroopers, had lost 94 soldiers since the invasion.
The high casualty rate among Russia’s specialist troops, including the once-feared VDV airborne forces, has increased the possibility of Ukrainian success.
“It’s an apt description that there has been a decimation of those VDV forces and some of the specialist forces,” a western official told The National in a media briefing.
“We don't have exact figures of how many of those remain, but we do have indications that much of the leadership, both the officers, the senior NCOs and junior NCO cadre, which are so key to making a successful unit, are indeed dead or wounded or incapacitated and not participating any more in the conflict.”
Moscow is also thought to be storing up Iranian kamikaze drones to be used against a potential Ukraine breakthrough from a counter-offensive expected this spring.
Equipped with advanced western tanks, including German-made Leopard IIs, and with several months of training, Kyiv seems set to use its modernised army to launch a surprise attack on Russian-occupied territory.
In anticipation of the coming offensive, leaders from both sides visited the front lines, with Russian President Vladimir Putin flying into the Kherson region in only his second visit to occupied Ukraine since ordering the invasion last February.
He handed over a religious icon to troops for Easter celebrations then quickly departed, telling them: “I don’t want to distract you from our duties.”
By contrast President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has visited the front line on numerous occasions, doing so again on Tuesday to the heavily bombarded town of Avdiivka that is close to the besieged area of Bakhmut.
Acting on his generals’ advice, it will ultimately be Mr Zelenskyy’s decision on when and where to order the assault that he hopes will reclaim lost territory.
With its high level of casualties, estimated at more than 100,000, and Mr Putin refusing to declare an official war along with a mass call up of troops, the Russians are finding it difficult to defend the 1,200km front line.
“Their ability to put personnel into those lines is under question at the moment,” the western official said. “They're spread relatively thinly across the lines so there will be opportunity there. You can't put a man in every single trench.”
It would be hard to identify “exactly where the Ukrainians are coming through” and then to manoeuvre a force to counter any breakthrough. “It's going to be difficult for the Russians to sustain the entire length of the line they have at the moment,” the official added.
The Russians, assisted by civilian contractors, have dug a series of deep defensive positions but it whether they have the trained personnel to defend them remains in doubt.
Some mobilised troops received four weeks' training, others only a week and some none at all before being sent to the front line. From a force of 150,000 troops it’s estimated that a mere 10 per cent had been through company-level training.
Russian attacks on Ukraine’s power infrastructure have also faded, proving largely ineffective. But it is understood that a number of Iran Shahed-136 kamikaze drones used in the aerial assault, are being held back.
“There are indications that the Russians are potentially stockpiling some of those attack drones for potential later use as they are particularly concerned about a Ukrainian counterattack,” the western official said.
The key to any breakthrough will be assembling intelligence on Russian positions, pinpointing minefield and machinegun placement, along with rehearsals using combat engineers to breach obstacles, with follow-on forces to exploit the opening. “It's complex warfare,” the official said.
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What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
How to donate
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
How to report a beggar
Abu Dhabi – Call 999 or 8002626 (Aman Service)
Dubai – Call 800243
Sharjah – Call 065632222
Ras Al Khaimah - Call 072053372
Ajman – Call 067401616
Umm Al Quwain – Call 999
Fujairah - Call 092051100 or 092224411
How to report a beggar
Abu Dhabi – Call 999 or 8002626 (Aman Service)
Dubai – Call 800243
Sharjah – Call 065632222
Ras Al Khaimah - Call 072053372
Ajman – Call 067401616
Umm Al Quwain – Call 999
Fujairah - Call 092051100 or 092224411
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How green is the expo nursery?
Some 400,000 shrubs and 13,000 trees in the on-site nursery
An additional 450,000 shrubs and 4,000 trees to be delivered in the months leading up to the expo
Ghaf, date palm, acacia arabica, acacia tortilis, vitex or sage, techoma and the salvadora are just some heat tolerant native plants in the nursery
Approximately 340 species of shrubs and trees selected for diverse landscape
The nursery team works exclusively with organic fertilisers and pesticides
All shrubs and trees supplied by Dubai Municipality
Most sourced from farms, nurseries across the country
Plants and trees are re-potted when they arrive at nursery to give them room to grow
Some mature trees are in open areas or planted within the expo site
Green waste is recycled as compost
Treated sewage effluent supplied by Dubai Municipality is used to meet the majority of the nursery’s irrigation needs
Construction workforce peaked at 40,000 workers
About 65,000 people have signed up to volunteer
Main themes of expo is ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’ and three subthemes of opportunity, mobility and sustainability.
Expo 2020 Dubai to open in October 2020 and run for six months
500 People from Gaza enter France
115 Special programme for artists
25 Evacuation of injured and sick
Three tips from La Perle's performers
1 The kind of water athletes drink is important. Gwilym Hooson, a 28-year-old British performer who is currently recovering from knee surgery, found that out when the company was still in Studio City, training for 12 hours a day. “The physio team was like: ‘Why is everyone getting cramps?’ And then they realised we had to add salt and sugar to the water,” he says.
2 A little chocolate is a good thing. “It’s emergency energy,” says Craig Paul Smith, La Perle’s head coach and former Cirque du Soleil performer, gesturing to an almost-empty open box of mini chocolate bars on his desk backstage.
3 Take chances, says Young, who has worked all over the world, including most recently at Dragone’s show in China. “Every time we go out of our comfort zone, we learn a lot about ourselves,” she says.
