From armour and kit to structure and logistics, the Kremlin has for six years been on a mission to transform Russia’s military from a clunking Soviet-era relic into a modern, flexible fighting force. Given the surgical ease with which Russian troops secured Crimea, wrongfooting Kiev and blindsiding Nato, it would be tempting to judge the reforms as having worked. Indeed, to many in Europe, Russia is proving itself a militarily resurgent power, adroitly, if aggressively, wielding its newfound heft. Russia’s defence budget is forecast to rise to just under 2.5tn roubles ($70bn) this year compared with 1.8tn roubles in 2012. But this perception belies the real state of Russia’s armed forces, which contains 850,000 active service personnel and 2m reservists. Although much changed since the country’s last major campaign, against Georgia in 2008, Russia’s military remains ill-organised and largely underprepared. In depth Crisis in Ukraine Russia has annexed the […]