Jens Asbjørn Bøgen
Russia/The Soviet Union has fought in wars for centuries – and it’s safe to say that it has not always been a succes.
Russia/The Soviet Union has fought in wars for centuries – and it’s safe to say that it has not always been a succes.
4th year of war in Ukraine
What was supposed to be a quick and sweeping victory over “little brother” Ukraine has turned out to be a humiliating display of Russian ineptitude militarily speaking
190.000 soldiers failed
Western estimates suggest that Russia used a staggering 190.000 soldiers when it launched the invasion of Ukraine in February of 2022.
Since then, Vladimir Putin has made partial mobilizations in order to replenish the Russian losses on the battlefield – losses that are now believed to have past one million killed and wounded.
Another Russian failure
Even though Russia’s population outnumbers Ukraine’s by nearly 4 to 1, Ukraine still manages to inflict humiliating defeats on the Russian military, further exposing the incompetence of the Russian army.
Centuries of war – and failures
Russia has existed for centuries, if we count the time as The Soviet Union, and the country has been involved in numerous wars over the years.
And we know, that you can’t win all your battles – but Russia seems to be talented in not being able to exploit it’s vast size and numbers.
The Battle of Narva (1700)
Early in the Great Northern War, Sweden’s Charles XII delivered a humiliating defeat to Tsar Peter the Great’s larger but poorly organized army near Narva.
Despite being outnumbered four to one, Swedish discipline and a surprise snowstorm gave them the edge.
Napoleon’s Invasion of 1812 — The Retreat from Moscow
Though the Russian scorched-earth tactics devastated Napoleon’s Grande Armée, Russia paid dearly.
The initial battles, like Borodino, resulted in massive casualties, and the burning of Moscow forced the French to retreat—but at an immense cost to both sides.
It’s seen as a pyrrhic moment that nearly broke the Russian military and economy.
The Crimean War Debacle (1853–1856)
Against a coalition of British, French, Ottoman, and Sardinian forces, Russia suffered heavy defeats during The Crimean War, most notably at Sevastopol.
The war exposed technological and logistical gaps, prompting long-overdue military modernization.
Russo-Japanese War Humiliation (1904–1905)
Japan stunned the world by crushing Russia both on land and at sea.
The Battle of Tsushima was particularly disastrous, where nearly the entire Russian Baltic Fleet was destroyed.
The defeat weakened the Tsarist regime and ignited the 1905 Revolution.
The Brusilov Offensive Collapse (1916)
Initially a brilliant tactical success during World War I, the Brusilov Offensive eventually collapsed due to poor coordination and overextension.
Though it inflicted heavy losses on Austria-Hungary, Russia’s inability to capitalize led to disillusionment, desertion, and ultimately contributed to the 1917 Russian Revolution.
The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk (1918)
In a desperate bid to exit World War I, Bolshevik Russia ceded vast territories to Germany and its allies.
The treaty was a strategic retreat—but at the cost of losing Ukraine, Belarus, the Baltics, and parts of Poland.
It was a humiliating concession that exposed Soviet vulnerability during its formative years.
The Winter War with Finland (1939–1940)
Despite overwhelming numbers, Soviet forces were bogged down by guerrilla tactics, snow, and poor leadership.
Though the USSR eventually forced territorial concessions, the high cost and military embarrassment foreshadowed issues that would plague the Red Army in World War II.
The Siege of Stalingrad—Initial Soviet Failures (1942)
Though ultimately a Soviet victory, the early phases of the Battle of Stalingrad revealed critical weaknesses.
Soviet forces suffered massive losses and ceded much of the city to German forces before turning the tide.
It remains a symbolic example of strategic misjudgment that nearly cost the Soviets the war.
The First Chechen War (1994–1996)
What was expected to be a swift operation turned into a bloody and humiliating quagmire.
Russian forces struggled in urban warfare, particularly in Grozny, facing fierce resistance from Chechen fighters.
The war ended with a ceasefire and de facto independence for Chechnya, tarnishing Russia’s post-Soviet military image.
The 2022 Invasion of Ukraine — Kharkiv and Kherson Setbacks
Launched with expectations of a quick victory, Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has faced major reversals.
The 2022 retreats from Kyiv, Kharkiv, and later Kherson showcased poor planning, underestimation of Ukrainian resolve, and logistical chaos.
