The lifers at the top may be hyper-competent, but they are more concerned with their careers than with their duty. But the rank and file are just conscripts who don't want to be there.

There's nothing wrong with their battle plan, but executing it depends on the non-coms and the grunts.
And if the infantry is not motivated, it doesn't matter how good the sargents are.

This dysfunction may be bad on the battlefield, but it is really deadly when you look at logistics, communications, supply, maintenance, support. There are some excellent units in the Russian armed forces, but the overall standard is abysmal.

I saw the same thing in my Navy service, although not quite as bad. But the US military learned from Vietnam and by the time Desert Storm came around we had our shit together.