Russian troops are running out of equipment and feel 'at war' with their own commanders: experts

• Russia faces serious problems as it battles Ukraine's counteroffensive, reports say.
• Its forces are low on morale and equipment, said the Institute for the Study of War.

The Russian military is facing low morale, infighting, and equipment shortages as it battles Ukraine's counteroffensive, according to experts.

Citing Russian military bloggers, an important source of independent information about the Russian military, US think tank The Institute for the Study of War said that the problems extend "along the entire front line."

It reported that in one area, Russian forces lacked light vehicles essential for moving equipment around quickly.

When soldiers register privately-owned vehicles with the Russian defense ministry for the job they "disappear or get transferred elsewhere."

"Russian commanders regularly punish servicemen who keep their vehicles for minor administrative violations and that Russian personnel feel that they are "at war" with their commanders," the ISW said, citing a miliblogger.

In the Kherson region in south Ukraine, Russian military requests for boats have not been met, the ISW said, as Ukraine launches attacks across the Dnipro River on Russian defensive positions.

It also reported on problems facing Russian artillery units engaged in "counterbattery operations," or targeting Ukrainian artillery and command and control centers.

Russian forces began experiencing artillery systems shortages and claimed that Russian forces began to receive "outdated" types of long-range gun, it said.

Russia has faced long-standing problems with equipment and ammunition shortages during its invasion of Ukraine, with Russian President Vladimir Putin in July admitting that Russia's equipment supplies had not kept up with demand.

"High-precision ammunition, communications equipment, drones etc... We have them, but unfortunately, there is not enough," said Putin.

US Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo in February said that Russia was struggling to produce enough ammunition for its forces.

Ukraine is currently seeking to drive Russia out of positions it occupies along a 600-mile front line in east and south Ukraine. But it is facing strong Russian defenses protected by miles of minefields and is experiencing ammunition and equipment shortages of its own.

Some analysts believe that if Ukraine succeeds in achieving a decisive breakthrough, Russia's demoralized forces could begin to crack, and resistance collapse.

But the ISW, in a recent assessment, cautioned that it was unclear "if, when, or where" this might happen.

Russia's military is also riddled with infighting, reports suggest, with the Kremlin having launched a search for traitors in the military command after June's mutiny by the Wagner mercenary force, which sough the ouster of Russia's military leaders over failings in Ukraine.