Russian weapons, tactics seen in Ukraine are shaping Myanmar’s civil war
Why it matters: Russian war tactics are globalizing, fueling Myanmar's brutal civil war and solidifying a new axis of sanctioned nations.
- Russian-supplied airpower, intelligence, and battlefield tactics from the Ukraine war are helping Myanmar’s military government turn the tide in its civil war, according to Ian Storey.
- Myanmar's military has adopted Russia’s 'meat assaults'—waves of conscripted infantry with little regard for casualties—a tactic first seen in Ukraine, as noted by Storey.
- Nationwide conscription in Myanmar has reportedly swelled army ranks by nearly 100,000 soldiers, providing the 'human cannon fodder' for these Russian-copied tactics.
- Moscow has emerged as Myanmar’s most important defense partner, with the Kremlin being among the first to welcome coup leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing.
- Myanmar became the only Southeast Asian nation to fully endorse Russia’s war on Ukraine and reportedly provided military assistance, including mortar shells and targeting systems.
- Ukraine’s military intelligence head, Lieutenant-General Kyrylo Budanov, revealed Moscow had requested military supplies from countries like Myanmar to address equipment shortfalls in Ukraine, as detailed in Storey's book.
Russian military tactics and weaponry, honed in the Ukraine war, are now decisively shaping Myanmar's civil conflict, providing its military government with a critical edge through airpower and brutal 'meat assaults.' This deepening military partnership between two sanctioned nations highlights a growing global alignment, with Myanmar endorsing Russia's war in Ukraine and even supplying military aid.
