The extent of corruption within Russia’s military ranks, particularly concerning equipment and supplies for the Ukraine conflict, is significant. While one should approach such reports with skepticism, the consistency across multiple sources and the observed battle outcomes lend credibility to these claims. For instance, it’s been reported that the reactive armor on Russia’s tanks was sold off by officers, who then replaced it with plastic training blocks to cover their deceit. Similarly, support vehicles’ tires have been substituted with inferior Chinese knock-offs, with officers pocketing the difference in costs. The ceramic armor in soldiers’ uniforms has also been replaced with substandard metal by corrupt officials.
This corruption echoes historical patterns, notably during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, where an estimated million conscripts perished. Public pressure at the time led to laws stipulating that conscripts could only be used for defense within Soviet borders. Post-Soviet Russia continued to respect this legal framework.
However, this corruption was seemingly unknown to President Vladimir Putin and his advisory generals. In response to the ongoing conflict, Putin has considered deploying North Korean soldiers to Ukraine, despite the evident language barriers and their inadequate training for modern warfare. Another critical factor hampering Russia’s military effectiveness in Ukraine is the absence of a well-developed, decentralized leadership structure among non-commissioned officers (NCOs), which contributes to the high number of Russian generals killed in action.
What has become increasingly apparent to Western observers is that both Russia and North Korea might be considered “paper tigers” when their nuclear arsenals are not factored into the equation. Their conventional military capabilities appear to be significantly undermined by internal corruption and structural deficiencies.
Published by Editor, Sammy Campbell.