Thread by @Andy_Scollick

Some further information regarding the "Zima-20" ("Winter-20") command staff exercises, which allegedly resulted in a defeat for Polish forces during a simulated (war-gamed) Russian attack 1/

The official website of the President of Poland (27 Jan) states that 'Several thousand officers participated in the exercise "ZIMA-20", whose scenarios and details are secret, as well as political factors.' translate.google.com/translate?sl=p…

Original in Polish: prezydent.pl/aktualnosci/wy… 2/

Andrzej Duda said: "Today we talked about it in detail: how the exercise went, what are the initial recommendations from it. .. 3/

Translation: …izla--www-prezydent-pl.translate.goog/aktualnosci/wy…

Original: prezydent.pl/aktualnosci/wy…

".. Yesterday, the Minister was with me and we talked about some of the first observations that come to mind as a result of this - where, for example, the equipment of our armed forces needs to be supplemented, where procedures will need to be improved." 4/

"I expect recommendations from the Chief of the General Staff, as well as from the Minister, in this respect - where should we make changes and additions. I think this exercise is a very good first lesson for us that allows us to revise and develop some new elements." 5/

"I hope that these exercises will take place more often, because they are very much needed. The emotions that accompanied this exercise, the decisions that had to be made - of extraordinary importance, fortunately made only theoretically - have .." 6/

"already shown how much it is necessary to practice, train, and get used to a certain mode of action and cooperation. ... It all worked out. It is very good that there are conclusions from the exercise; it is very good that we will be able, as I said, to make some adjustments" 7/

Gazeta_pl internet portal has 11 million users per month translate.google.com/translate?sl=p… and carries the story (2 Feb):

"Russians near Warsaw in four days. And this is not the worst conclusion from the Winter-20 exercise" translate.google.com/translate?hl=&…

Original: wiadomosci.gazeta.pl/wiadomosci/7,1… 8/

'Something bad happened at the top of the Polish army. Although the course of the recent great Winter-20 staff exercises is officially classified, it quickly ceased to be. Extremely extensive leaks indicate that they were not only about training the defense of Poland. ..' 9/

'This is a war for the most important stool in the Polish army, waged in an extremely dirty manner.' 10/

'Gazeta_pl obtained similar information from two sources. In this recent virtual war, the Russians broke the Polish army and reached the outskirts of Warsaw in four days. ..' 11/

'Our troops suffered catastrophic losses and were not even able to organize an effective defense on the Vistula line. The Russians could drive further west. This may sound alarming, but it doesn't have to be.' 12/

'First, it is not clear what the conditions for the exercise were. There is no doubt that even a military genius will not change the fact that the Polish army has no chance in an open confrontation with the armed forces of Russia. ..' 13/

'Too large disproportion of potentials. Fortunately, a scenario in which Poland has to fight alone with all the forces of the Russian Western Military District is very unlikely at present.' 14/

'Secondly, exercises are also about losing them and drawing conclusions from it. One of the diseases afflicting the Polish army is such "setting" of all exercises and maneuvers so that they are always successful and that success can be reported.' 15/

'So is it wrong in principle that Poland was beaten during the virtual battle of Winter-20? In such a situation, the key is to analyze the causes of failure and draw the right conclusions from it. So that a similar scenario is not repeated in reality.' 16/