Germany underestimated Russia’s military potential to produce weapons for war against Ukraine, - Bundeswehr General Freuding
Germany underestimated the capabilities of Russia, which, despite the tightening of sanctions, is building up its military-industrial complex. At the same time, the Bundeswehr suggests that Russia has lost tanks and infantry fighting vehicles in the four-digit range during the full-scale war.
This was stated by Major General Christian Freuding, head of the special headquarters for assistance to Ukraine at the German Ministry of Defense, in an interview with the Süddeutsche Zeitung, Censor.NET reports with reference to RBC-Ukraine.
According to him, the analysis of the development of the war in Ukraine did not take into account some of Russia's capabilities.
He noted that the ability of the Russian Federation to hold out was not initially considered in the way it is now being assessed by the Bundeswehr.
"The Bundeswehr also did not assume that Russia would succeed in what we are now clearly seeing: they are building up their military-industrial complex, expanding it, increasing production capacity, despite the most severe sanctions regime," the general emphasized.
A representative of the German Defense Ministry suggested that they "did not see or did not want to see" Russia's ability to find ways to obtain military supplies from other countries.
Freuding clarified that he was referring to the DPRK, China, and other countries that can supply Russia with lighting for refrigerators, but it can also be used for military purposes.
The general also noted that expectations of maximum possible military success in the Ukrainian counteroffensive were "certainly exaggerated in retrospect."
He emphasized that from a military point of view, the Ukrainian Armed Forces were successful.
"80% of Ukraine's territory is still free, and this is after two years of fighting the so-called military superpower. They have regained 50% of the lost territories. The Russian Black Sea Fleet has been de facto pushed out of the western part of the Black Sea," he said.
He also emphasized Ukraine's ability to strike deep behind the front lines, even with "primitive weapons systems.
Freuding added that Russian losses in terms of people and material resources are enormous. In Germany, it is assumed that Russia has lost tanks and infantry fighting vehicles in the four-digit range.
