It’s a lot of things. Graft is rampant, especially in the upper levels of Russian government. Almost half of government spending goes to graft. That means that a lot of things don’t get done, or are done to lower standards. There has been massive flooding from failed infrastructure with tens of thousands of homes destroyed, and the government response has been almost non-existent.
Russia can’t control their airspace so pretty much every day Ukrainian drones destroy another oil refinery. These make great targets because they supply a lot of the boom themselves and because Russia needs western tech to rebuild them. So far it’s down 14% of capacity, and Russia doesn’t seem to have a solution.
Morale among Russian troops is non-existent with many incidents of soldiers “fragging” superiors, and “barrier” troops ordered to fire on retreating storm troops. Men are being sent in with ridiculously bad equipment just to soak up bullets. US estimates are that Russia’s losses are around 90% of the original invading force. Much of Russia’s military is back filled with inexperienced conscripts. There are reports of pilots sabotaging their own planes to keep from flying suicide missions, and of course the whole Wagner fiasco.
There is a lot more that could be said, but I don’t want to write a book here.
I wouldn’t disagree that Russia has corruption, but I don’t think that means much. It’s much less corrupt now than it was when Yeltsin’s government let the Western shock therapists come in and plunder the country. Putin’s government kicked them out. Ukraine is famously the most corrupt country in Europe, though reports about that mysteriously stopped in 2020. Just based on the cost-plus model of our military-industrial complex alone, the US is very corrupt.
And I wouldn’t disagree that Ukraine’s drones will continue to be a challenge for Russian infrastructure. They can only reach so deep into the deepest state landmass on Earth, though. Eastern Russia is largely barren, though, and I’m not trying to discount the drones by arguing it isn’t.
A KGB spy and a CIA agent meet up in a bar for a friendly drink.
“I have to admit, I’m always so impressed by Soviet propaganda. You really know how to get people worked up,” the CIA agent says.
“Thank you,” the KGB says. “We do our best but truly, it’s nothing compared to American propaganda. Your people believe everything your state media tells them.”
The CIA agent drops his drink in shock and disgust. “Thank you friend, but you must be confused… There’s no propaganda in America.”
Aside from the first link they’re all Wikipedia, and none of them are considered controversial in the least. This stuff is regularly referenced in scholarly works and covered in college curricula.
I’m not up to date with the Russia news. How are they starting to unravel?
It’s a lot of things. Graft is rampant, especially in the upper levels of Russian government. Almost half of government spending goes to graft. That means that a lot of things don’t get done, or are done to lower standards. There has been massive flooding from failed infrastructure with tens of thousands of homes destroyed, and the government response has been almost non-existent.
Russia can’t control their airspace so pretty much every day Ukrainian drones destroy another oil refinery. These make great targets because they supply a lot of the boom themselves and because Russia needs western tech to rebuild them. So far it’s down 14% of capacity, and Russia doesn’t seem to have a solution.
Morale among Russian troops is non-existent with many incidents of soldiers “fragging” superiors, and “barrier” troops ordered to fire on retreating storm troops. Men are being sent in with ridiculously bad equipment just to soak up bullets. US estimates are that Russia’s losses are around 90% of the original invading force. Much of Russia’s military is back filled with inexperienced conscripts. There are reports of pilots sabotaging their own planes to keep from flying suicide missions, and of course the whole Wagner fiasco.
There is a lot more that could be said, but I don’t want to write a book here.
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Most of what that guy was posting has basis in reality though.
For corruption, there have been plenty of instances of high up officials being arrested for corruption, such as: https://www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/2024/4/24/russia-arrests-deputy-defence-minister-suspected-of-corruption
For the oil refineries, there have been a number of drone attacks on them. There was one just the other day that was well documented https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2024/05/10/ukrainian-drone-attacks-oil-refinery-in-russias-kaluga-region-a85086
And for Russian morale, that one is harder to verify but does seem roughly true: https://cepa.org/article/russias-army-is-in-disarray-but-will-keep-fighting/
I wouldn’t disagree that Russia has corruption, but I don’t think that means much. It’s much less corrupt now than it was when Yeltsin’s government let the Western shock therapists come in and plunder the country. Putin’s government kicked them out. Ukraine is famously the most corrupt country in Europe, though reports about that mysteriously stopped in 2020. Just based on the cost-plus model of our military-industrial complex alone, the US is very corrupt.
And I wouldn’t disagree that Ukraine’s drones will continue to be a challenge for Russian infrastructure. They can only reach so deep into the deepest state landmass on Earth, though. Eastern Russia is largely barren, though, and I’m not trying to discount the drones by arguing it isn’t.
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They aren’t. This person is running on Western propaganda and copium fumes.
“Western propaganda” fucking lol
.
Can I borrow your tinfoil hat?
Aside from the first link they’re all Wikipedia, and none of them are considered controversial in the least. This stuff is regularly referenced in scholarly works and covered in college curricula.