Vladimir Putin’s forces have failed to hit targets in Ukraine because they use some “outdated” maps dating back to the 1970s, Western officials said on Friday. Its military leaders are believed to be seeking to destroy Ukrainian military supply lines, including with rocket-propelled grenades in Kyiv, behind the front line. However, some targets are misidentified, increasing the risk of civilian casualties, a Western official said. It is also said that Russian units are attacking fixed rather than moving targets, such as convoys, in part due to a lack of information. This is partly due to the failure of the destruction of the Ukrainian air defenses, which means that the Russian secret services, surveillance and reconnaissance missions are limited.
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“We also see a lot of Russian forces using quite outdated mapping, in some cases using mapping from the 1970s, which of course does not in any way represent the kind of target they are trying to pursue in Ukraine.” said the official. “So there are some real challenges and some reasons why they may not be as effective, but they also pose more risks with these attacks.” After recent speeches by Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, the Western official stressed an “inequality” between the will of what they want to achieve and the ability of their armed forces to do so. “These political goals and the range of military capabilities to achieve them are becoming increasingly fragmented and the reality on the ground does not correspond to the political rhetoric coming from the Kremlin,” he said. Putin is also believed to be trying to achieve some form of victory in Donbas by May 9. The day is a key date in the Russian military calendar, as it marks the surrender of the Nazis to World War II and an annual parade takes place in Moscow’s Red Square. The Western official said: “I’m sure there will be a desire for some form of success storytelling that we can give to the people, even if it is a limited success at that particular time. “Certainly they will not have achieved even their limited goals, let alone their full goal set by May 9.” Amid speculation that Mr Putin could announce a mass mobilization to step up his war effort, he added: “There is a chance we will see a greater call for arms.” But that would likely mean a change in narrative, he explained from the Kremlin to a “special operation” in Ukraine in a war.
