Estonian defense expert: Russia’s military is overhyped in German media

Estonian defense expert Rainer Saks has questioned the accuracy of claims made by the German newspaper Die Welt, which reported that Russia’s defense industry could fully replace military equipment lost in battles against Ukraine and even exceed production needs for the ongoing conflict.

The article, citing German officials, also stated that Russia can recruit as many soldiers as it loses, with particular concern over its 1.5-million-strong army. According to the report, Russia allegedly plans to seize the entirety of Donbas, as well as unoccupied areas of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson, by the end of this year.

Saks criticized the report, arguing that it aligns more with Russia's propaganda efforts than with the realities on the battlefield. He emphasized that Russia’s leadership is frustrated with the slow pace of progress on the frontlines and is pressuring its military for faster results to achieve its objectives in Ukraine. „So far, there has been no sign of a pick-up in Russian defence industry output on the front. The use of armoured vehicles and artillery, which should, by all accounts, form the main striking force of the Russian army's ground forces, is declining,” Saks wrote.

The expert’s analysis highlights the ongoing challenges in discerning facts from disinformation in the context of the Ukraine conflict.