For years, Vladimir Putin’s Russia has been seen as a formidable military threat, but recent failures, especially in Ukraine, have exposed the reality: Russia’s military prowess is far weaker than advertised. Despite the bombastic rhetoric and aggressive hybrid warfare tactics, Russia has consistently fallen short of achieving its strategic objectives.
Once feared for its cyber warfare and energy coercion, Russia has shown itself to be ineffective in key areas of modern conflict. Its cyber-attacks, once heralded as game-changing, have failed to cripple Ukraine, while its energy blackmail has backfired spectacularly, with Europe finding new suppliers and weaning itself off Russian gas. Putin’s once-vaunted military has become a shadow of its former self, plagued by corruption, incompetence, and low morale.
Ukraine, bolstered by Western support, has managed to push back Russian forces, exposing the Kremlin’s military as little more than a “paper tiger.” The early Russian failures in Kyiv and Hostomel, along with a grinding stalemate on the battlefield, have proven that Putin’s army is far from the fearsome force many once believed.
The future of Russia’s military may see some marginal improvements, but NATO has little reason to fear. As Putin roars from behind a weakened military machine, the West can afford to focus on more pressing global challenges, knowing that Russia’s bark is much worse than its bite.
