Russia has “likely largely stopped” deploying its troops as Battalion Tactical Groups (BTGs) in Ukraine after “intrinsic weaknesses” were exposed in the Ukraine war, British defence chiefs said on Tuesday.
The Ministry of Defence said BTGs have “played a major part in Russian military doctrine for the last 10 years”. This has seen battalions integrated with a full range of supporting sub-units, including armour, reconnaissance and artillery, according to the MoD.
However, it said in its latest intelligence update that “several intrinsic weaknesses of the concept have been exposed in the high intensity, large-scale combat of the Ukraine war so far”.
Russia’s army reportedly has around 170 battalion tactical groups, each with around 600–800 officers and soldiers, which are battle ready and equipped with heavy weaponry. Around 115 are reported to have been deployed in Ukraine.
The MoD tweeted: “Over the last three months, Russian forces in Ukraine have likely largely stopped deploying as Battalion Tactical Groups (BTGs).”
Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine - 29 November 2022
— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) November 29, 2022
Find out more about the UK government's response: https://t.co/BH2fUT8Uqr
🇺🇦 #StandWithUkraine 🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/G6IYZE2HDK
It added: “Several intrinsic weaknesses of the BTG concept have been exposed in the high intensity, large-scale combat of the Ukraine war so far.
“BTGs’ relatively small allocation of combat infantry has often proved insufficient.
“Decentralised distribution of artillery has not allowedRussia to fully leverage its advantage in numbers of guns; and few BTG commanders have been empowered to flexibly exploit opportunities in the way the BRG model was designed to promote.”
Around 100,000 Russian troops have either been killed or injured since Vladimir Putin launched his invasion of Ukraine in February, America’s most senior general, Mark Miller, estimated earlier this month.
He said Ukraine has suffered a similar number of casualties.
Meanwhile, Nato Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg reaffirmed the military alliance’s commitment to Ukraine on Tuesday, saying that the war-torn nation will one day become a member of the world’s largest security organisation.
Mr Stoltenberg’s remarks came as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his NATO counterparts gathered in Romania to drum up urgently needed support for Ukraine aimed at ensuring that Moscow fails to defeat the country as it bombards energy infrastructure.
“NATO’s door is open,” Mr Stoltenberg said. “Russia does not have a veto” on countries joining, he said in reference to the recent entry of North Macedonia and Montenegro into the security alliance. He said that Putin “will get Finland and Sweden as NATO members” soon.
The Nordic neighbors applied for membership in April, concerned that Russia might target them next.
“We stand by that, too, on membership for Ukraine,” the former Norwegian prime minister said.
