Transforming Russia’s Ground Forces: Lessons Learned in Syria

About the Event

The Syrian Civil War produces a new set of problems involving extended urban combat, intense fights for key resources (oil fields, water, and lines of communication and supply), conventional combat among irregular units, ethnic and religious cleansing, a large number of foreign combatants with varying motivations, and contending outside powers fighting a proxy engagement. The Russian Federation is not an expeditionary power, and its entry into Syria on the side of the regime has strained its logistical resources. While Russian military support to Syria has proved expensive and difficult to withdraw, Russian Ground Forces have, nevertheless, improved their expertise in many areas. 

Join us for a discussion with Les Grau, Senior Analyst for the Foreign Military Studies Office (FMSO) at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and Charles Bartles, an analyst and Russian linguist at the Foreign Military Studies Office at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Grau and Bartles, along with discussion moderator - Anna Borshchevskaya of the Washington Institute, will discuss exactly how and why their experience in Syria has helped transform the Russian Ground Forces. This includes Russia’s advisory efforts;  artillery support, reconnaissance, integration and training; engineer mobility and countermobility support and training; national and international military police support and hands-on actions; coastal defense forces support from coastal artillery and naval infantry; the controversial employment of private military companies; and special operations forces.

Learn more here about FPRI's new edited volume, Russia's War in Syria: Assessing Russian Military Capabilities and Lessons Learned.

Registration

Zoom instructions will be provided upon registration. 

Registration required. 

If you have any questions, please contact Rachel Dooley at rdooley@fpri.org

Speakers