A road in Donetsk littered with the shattered remnants of Russian military might. On October 10 this column was interdicted while en route to assault Ukrainian positions, and while the means of attack was not mentioned in the original source but by artillery likely played a role. This tableau provides a complete display of Russian and Soviet armor – tanks, BMPs, BTRs, MTLBs, mine resistant vehicles – everything. And then there are the bodies, bits and pieces of Russian manhood left in the mud to rot. The scene is an example of the staggering losses suffered over the last month, but also is indicative of deeper issues within the Russian military machine. Many of the vehicles are clearly damaged, but others have minimal external damage and are potentially recoverable. Yet there has been little documentation of the Russian army conducting extensive recovery operations, and many have been abandoned and recovered or stripped by Ukrainian defenders. And then there are the bodies. Most western armies – certainly the United States military – has a tradition of revering its fallen, but Russian soldiers are left in heaps to rot, discarded like so much trash on the Ukrainian roadside. In Russia, soldiers, like tanks and BMPs, are expendable.

About the Author

Cam

Cam served as an infantry officer in the Marine Corps, deploying to the Horn of Africa and participating in combat operations in Iraq. He currently works in the maritime industry and in the defense sector as an instructor of combined arms planning and operations. An avid sailor, Cam founded and directs Triumph Sailing, a nonprofit that supports veterans and first responders through adventure and fellowship on the water. Triumph Sailing just completed its big yearly event, an offshore race in the Gulf of Mexico with an all veteran crew. You can support the mission and next year's sailing season at Tri-Sail.Org.