Russia's military: Don't believe the hype

Putin's forces are far less effective they appear

The Russian military is presenting itself as more advanced than it actually is.
(Image credit: Dima Korotayev/Epsilon/Getty Images)

The Bear is back. Or so the headlines would have you believe.

The Russian military, led by Russian President Vladimir Putin, has taken the offensive in recent months in the Eastern Ukraine and Crimea, and now in Syria. Russia is also focusing to project power in the Pacific and Arctic regions. On top of that, the Russian military is being rebuilt, with plans for new tanks, aircraft carriers, and submarines.

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Kyle Mizokami is a freelance writer whose work has appeared in The Daily Beast, TheAtlantic.com, The Diplomat, and The National Interest. He lives in San Francisco.