Overview
- Speaking at the Valdai forum in Sochi on October 2, Vladimir Putin said tanks now primarily support infantry from covered positions rather than spearhead breakthroughs.
- He declared that large armored thrusts associated with World War II, such as Guderian-style wedges or Rybalko breakthroughs, are no longer feasible.
- Putin said the effectiveness of long-range precision weapons declines when opponents deploy advanced electronic warfare, pressing forces to devise countermeasures within days or weeks.
- He highlighted the expansion of unmanned platforms in the air, on land, and at sea, noting many have dual-use applications including medicine, food delivery, and cargo transport.
- He added that these shifts drive investment in intelligence and electronic-warfare capabilities and are reshaping the tactics of armed conflict.