THAT'S SOME RESURGENCE...:

In Georgia, Russia saw its Army's shortcomings: Decades of neglect, outdated technology, and an ineffective conscript system reduced the capabilities of the Russian Army. (Fred Weir, 10/10/08, The Christian Science Monitor )

Russian forces entering South Ossetia lacked even basic intelligence regarding Georgian artillery positions and troop deployments, which led several of their leading units into costly ambushes. In one surprise attack, the 58th Army's senior commander, Gen. Anatoly Khrulyev, was badly wounded and had to be evacuated.

In a desperate effort to get information, the Russians sent an electronic reconnaissance version of the Tupolev Tu-22M Backfire bomber over the battlefield and it got shot down. In all, Russia lost four planes, including three Sukhoi Su-25 attack fighters to unexpectedly effective Georgian air defenses. Some Russian commanders reported using cellphones to communicate with their units when their own radios failed.

Additionally, the tanks deployed by the Russian Army did not have night sights for their guns, and the reactive armor designed to protect them from Georgian antitank weapons proved unreliable.

...not that they were ever much of a threat.

Posted by Orrin Judd at October 10, 2008 9:32 AM