A new intake of Russian officers who started studies at the Russian General Staff Academy on 1 December will likely “exert major influence over the future direction of Russia’s military”, the UK Defense Ministry reported.

Recently, the MoD said that “over 60% of the intake has combat experience,” likely gained during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine which began in February 2022.

“Students at the academy typically rank between Major and General-Major (equivalent to a one-star General in the NATO system) and are earmarked as having the potential for senior command,” said the report.

According to the UK Intel, the Ukraine war means combat experience is more widespread across the mid-level cadre of Russian officers, even having experience fighting in Syria.

“Over the coming years, this generation is likely to exert major influence over the future direction of Russia’s military and whether it implements lessons learned from the war in Ukraine,” the UK Defense Ministry concluded.

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