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Ukraine and the Russian invasion, 2022-24

I think there is quite a bit of evidence to suggest that corruption within the Russian armed forces is through the roof. From brigades having vastly over inflated numbers so that the CO's can pocket the wages, to troops being sent into Ukraine with rations that had a use by date back in the soviet era (if they were lucky enough to even receive a ration pack).

It's hard to quanitfy the levels of corruption in each country, but I'd be willing to accept that over the last couple of years Ukraine has made some attempts to clean their act up (It will be a pretty big sticking point of them successfully getting into the EU), whilst in Russia it seems like its hard-wired into the state, to the point of it severely impacting on their ability to conduct what should have been a roll-over of Ukraine for the worlds second largest army .
The quite a bit of evidence, I’m not disputing this but would like to read about it if you can point me to what informs your view.
 
I don't doubt for a second that Ukraine still has issues with corruption. But given that Ukraine has been able to not only resist but also push back the invasion of a significantly larger country, I'd wager that Russia has much worse problems with corruption. Don't we remember that massive armoured column that at one point was heading straight towards Kyiv, but which ultimately faltered at least in part because the poor fuckers' tyres kept falling apart?
 
er again i'd point you to armenia v azerbaijan, and look which side of that russia was backing: and which side lost. i think it's more that russia had only one army, for show, when it should have had the two that larteguy describes:

Yeah, there is that, but on paper Russia has all the tanks and gubbins that a first rate army should have and the money left the budget for those bit's of bling. When you look a bit closer though you start to see that the new tyres they bought are cheap part worns from Boris's scrap yard and state of the art avionics turn out to be using google maps on a pilots phone blue-tacked to his cockpits dashboard.

You may just consider this innovative military doctrine, but to me it smells like cash is getting heavily skimmed. It happens in all over the world - remember those IED "detectors" that the British Army bought. They may as well have bought a bulk buy of e-meters from the Church of Scientology.
 
Yeah, there is that, but on paper Russia has all the tanks and gubbins that a first rate army should have and the money left the budget for those bit's of bling. When you look a bit closer though you start to see that the new tyres they bought are cheap part worns from Boris's scrap yard and state of the art avionics turn out to be using google maps on a pilots phone blue-tacked to his cockpits dashboard.

You may just consider this innovative military doctrine, but to me it smells like cash is getting heavily skimmed. It happens in all over the world - remember those IED "detectors" that the British Army bought. They may as well have bought a bulk buy of e-meters from the Church of Scientology.
i don't think anything in your post relates to military doctrine auld or new, but to procurement.
 
The quite a bit of evidence, I’m not disputing this but would like to read about it if you can point me to what informs your view.
You fucker. You know full well that I'm much too lazy a cunt to go searching for loads of citations just to prove a point on the internet. :D

Though here's a few



 
The difference between corruption in Ukraine and corruption in Russia is that there is pressure from Ukraines allies for Ukraine to at least be seen to be tackling some of these very well known issues.

Recent reporting alludes to this, eg:

Ukraine has a history of corruption and in 2021 Transparency International ranked the country at 122 out of 180 countries in its ranking of corrupt states.

A crackdown is one of the EU's key demands if the country is to advance its application to join the bloc.

While there have been anti-corruption reforms in recent years, the stakes are high for Kyiv - which is receiving billions of dollars worth of financial aid from Western allies.

 
The difference between corruption in Ukraine and corruption in Russia is that there is pressure from Ukraines allies for Ukraine to at least be seen to be tackling some of these very well known issues.

Recent reporting alludes to this, eg:





oh right, it's a case of 'something must be seen to be done' rather than 'this must end'
 
The difference between corruption in Ukraine and corruption in Russia is that there is pressure from Ukraines allies for Ukraine to at least be seen to be tackling some of these very well known issues.

Recent reporting alludes to this, eg:





Exactly and the west is emaculate. A corruption free shining example of virtue.

In any case this is only what we know about and the bourgeois media can't be trusted anyway.
 
You fucker. You know full well that I'm much too lazy a cunt to go searching for loads of citations just to prove a point on the internet. :D

Though here's a few



Thanks. I will have a read.
 
You fucker. You know full well that I'm much too lazy a cunt to go searching for loads of citations just to prove a point on the internet. :D

Though here's a few



I'm sure that state corruption in Russia of this kind is a thing, but its not great that you had to post a link from 2011 is it?
 
oh right, it's a case of 'something must be seen to be done' rather than 'this must end'
A bit of both is plausible, but I will reserve judgement as to the ultimate extent to which meaningful and lasting reform is achieved. Some of the pressure to change is real enough, war can provide real impetus for meaningful, rapid change, but obviously also provides much fog and reasons to look the other way or pay mere lip service to issues.
 
I am fairly aware of the theft during and after the demise of the Soviet Union. That was a while back though.

Anything related to the theft of supplies for troops? I would think they would get shot.

The Ukrainian corruption highlighted above involves the most senior of state officials. The fish rots from the head.
Only minor pilfering from work in the workers paradise of Putin's Russia. Like eight ton warship propellers...

 
I haven’t seen any such reports of Russian politicians stealing winter aid money, generator money, troops food supplies. I only really look in the Guardian though. I doubt you would accept quotes from RT on Urban.

I don’t know. I haven’t seen evidence of this reported.

Perhaps because you're only reading stuff that confirms your bias?

It is a good idea to provide evidence to back up your claim that this particular type of corruption is being practiced in Russia by the Putin regime though, otherwise its just a claim without any evidence.

Here you go:

 
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The SMO is disarming Europe at quite an impressive rate.
The entire point of most of these armaments was to dissuade Russian aggression. It's simply putting the weapons to the use they were intended for. If Ukraine falls, a few dozen artillery pieces aren't going to save Estonia. Funny enough, most of their gear is ex-Finnish stuff donated to them on pretty much the same basis. It remains to be seen how much Poland is willing to trade away their strength - at the moment, most of their donations have been swapped for newer and better gear from the US. The UK is pretty much looking at it that way - what a great excuse to get some new kit! It's not like those Challies they're sending over were going to do anything, and there's only a budget to upgrade a sub-set of them to modern standards.
 
Here's a more recent (2018) scholarly study (citation count: 125, many available as hyperlinks to other studies/reports) on corruption in the Russian military. It starts with a whole section on corruption in the Russian state in general. I have also included the first citation, which looks like a good overview of Russian corruption in general.
 

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