These things simply writes itself. Newsweek and the New York Occasions revealed items that current diametrically opposed narratives. Newsweek pushes the meme that Russia has run out of missiles (lastly) — Russia Switching War Strategy as Missiles Run Out. I assume they don’t learn the New York Occasions, which revealed the reporting of Julian E. Barnes, Eric Schmitt and Thomas Gibbons-Neff, Russia Overcomes Sanctions to Expand Missile Production, Officials Say.
The New York Occasions piece, revealed on 13 September, reported:
Russia has managed to beat sanctions and export controls imposed by the West to broaden its missile manufacturing past prewar ranges, in keeping with U.S., European and Ukrainian officers, leaving Ukraine particularly susceptible to intensified assaults within the coming months. . . .
In lower than a yr because the conflict started, Russia rebuilt trade in critical components by routing them through countries like Armenia and Turkey. U.S. and European regulators have been trying to work together to curb the export of chips to Russia, however have struggled to cease the stream to go by way of nations with ties to Moscow. . . .
At this time, Russian officers have remade their financial system to concentrate on protection manufacturing. With income from excessive vitality costs, Russia’s safety providers and ministry of protection have been capable of smuggle within the microelectronics and different Western supplies required for cruise missiles and different precision guided weaponry. Because of this, army manufacturing has not solely recovered however surged.
Earlier than the conflict, one senior Western protection official mentioned, Russia may make 100 tanks a yr; now they’re producing 200.
Whereas Barnes, Schmitt and Gibbons-Neff appropriately be aware that Russia is unfazed by the sanctions and its protection business is churning out all of the ammunition, tanks and missiles the Russian army wants, they’re gullible in accepting the declare by U.S. officers that Russia is working this magic as a result of it’s evading sanctions. The New York Occasions reporters nonetheless don’t get it — Russia, not like america, is an industrial energy and has the technical expertise and materials assets wanted to supply the weapons Russia wants.
Which brings me to the most recent article from Newsweek (revealed on 15 November). The lede within the Newsweek piece is partially false and deceptive. Alia Slisco writes:
Russia is reportedly specializing in drone coaching whereas coping with brief provides of missiles and army tools used within the ongoing conflict with Ukraine.
Whereas there have been indications that Russia has drastically diminished its use of missiles in Ukraine in latest months, the nation could also be building a large stockpile of the weapons for use in an impending winter assault. Within the meantime, Moscow could also be turning to different weapons to proceed its present assault.
Slisco is appropriate that Russia is utilizing extra First Particular person View drones to assault Ukrainian army positions. However that doesn’t show that Russia is operating out of missiles. Actually, Slisco concedes that Russia “could also be constructing a big stockpile” of missiles for use when Moscow decides to launch an enormous counter offensive.
Should you learn the article, it’s not about missiles. It’s about Russia’s dramatic elevated use of drones to assault Ukrainian troops with devastating outcomes.
Russia will launch missiles when it serves its tactical and strategic targets. Proper now, Russia is killing Ukrainians with less expensive know-how and, as time goes on, is creating extra subtle and deadly drones. Simply one other reminder that Ukraine is in bother.
