"Russia Not Screening Draftees." Topic

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This is going to turn into a full-blown disaster with hordes of dead before they even see combat. They will die if they have to run, march or spend the night outside when the temperature dips below zero.

When I was in the 82nd Airborne my unit was sent to be advisor / observers to a National Guard Unit. Two hours into the FTX they lost half the unit during a road march (walking pace…) All the overweight, out of shape and anyone over 40. The Russians are going to litter the landscape with dead before they even see combat.

The performance of the Russian 3rd army corps is providing enough evidence of what will happen.
The Ukrainians have been posting a lot of video of destroyed elements from this formation. They attack in bunched groups and show little to no understanding of combined arms.

This is going to turn into a full-blown disaster with hordes of dead before they even see combat.

I agree totally … this fodder will be less able than the first wave of Russians when they crossed the border 7-8 months ago.

They attack in bunched groups and show little to no understanding of combined arms.

I've been saying that here since Day 1. They are more like some Mid East Armies of the early previous wars with the IDF. Marginal at best …

Report out of Crimea, wife says her husband was mobilized and sent to Kherson front after one DAY of training, has no prior military experience.

On HERE…We probably have a much better grasp of what might be needed than many Russian civvies… and I am an OLD, Non Military, Totally unfit civvie.

We know the basics of 'movement under fire', 'supporting arms', 'Cover', 'Ground' and 'Movement'. and the importance of unit cohesion and 'morale', (In it's various forms'). Basic Hygiene, CASEVAC and logistic supply. Food, shelter. And 'Belief'.

Many Russians won't. Nor will Officers. It took several weeks to 'train' a rookie in WW2… and things are a LOT different now.
Feel a bit sorry for them… but not a lot.

The administrators tasked with the draft are only interested in filling their quota as fast as possible so as to look efficient. It is not their problem that some of the draftees they send are old, sick, disabled or in reserved occupations or do not have any combat experience, conscript training or special skill – that is someone else's problem. Such is the Russian system.

Druzhina
Illustrations of Costume & Soldiers

Morale of the story don't disengage from politics and vote for wannabe dictators and their stooges (admittedly some 2020:2020 hindsight required there)?

I suppose in theory the unit commanders saddled with these guys could complain up the chain of command that they have a whole bunch of over age, medical discharge and reserved career cases and report their unit's readiness appropriately. Or they could lie, desperately try find the worst cases support roles if they can be bothered.

DPR and LPR went for a conscripting 'the bottom of the barrel' approach. It didn't seem to end well. Sooner or later Russia is going to run out of reliable units that fill gaps when their frontline legs it!

There's another question that springs to mind which is where are the officers coming from? I know Russia is a bit top heavy, as many militaries are, officer-wise deliberately but enough for 300,000 or more especially given the combat losses they've been suffering?

Even with reasonable quality troops, they'd need leaders. Officers and nco make things happen.

Unfit untrained and ill equiped men.
Plus
Untrained indifferent leaders.

Means 300,000 targets.

Dragon Gunner, when were you with the 82nd, and what unit were you with? I was with 2/508th INF, from '82-'85.

Just let them come.

So how is it that our intelligence agencies did not pick this up? Has the USSR been a paper tiger for 80 years?

Even with reasonable quality troops, they'd need leaders.

And those are not found in the Russian military. Poorly trained troops with poor motivation, no capable NCO Corps with marginal Officers. What could possibly go wrong ? That already has not since they rolled across the border.

Different cultures have different ideas about how soldiers should be treated. What's happening is not inconsistent with history. It's bad enough reading about this happening decades ago, it's really awful to think about it happening right now.

1/504 1984-1988

Soldiers must be given good relevant training and be treated well otherwise they will not be effective and you have just wasted time and money.

Training can be hard and demanding but must be judged relevant and "fair" or soldiers will not have good morale.

Officers and NC:O:s must lead by example, help with things like filling sandbags, taking night watch shifts and eat last. Usually they do not have to do it for long as most soldiers understand officers have more important things to do than stand watch. But just by showing they are willing to share the soldiers plight will help with morale.

Assembling 300k disgruntled Russians with no shortage of vodka on hand is a good way to inadvertently start a Coup.

Any chance Russia's police force will get smaller?
I think not! They don't want to face anyone that can shoot back.

"So how is it that our intelligence agencies did not pick this up? Has the USSR been a paper tiger for 80 years?"

Just 40 years ago the Soviets would not have been in this position. The advances in technology that led to the Javelin, HIMARS, and others crushed the initial assault. The Russians didn't keep up with modern warfare. Of course they had issues back then too, but with technological near parity they weren't so obvious.

The leadership issue will be worse for the Russians than a similar situation in the west. Their NCOs are not long standing professionals, just conscripts with a little extra training. Russian/Soviet officers have to do a lot of the work western NCOs do.

Comes down to again, they need bodies/meat shields/bullet stoppers, but in the long run this won't make a difference. Just more death all around …

First of the conscript have now been taken POW:s. Three days ago they were sitting in their favorite sofa sippin' vodka and now POW in Ukraine…

Video of 'From mobilization to captivity in 3 days'.
ТРУХА⚡️English, Sep 28, 2022.

Druzhina
Illustrations of Costume & Soldiers

3 days LMAO!

Joke subtitles to a video of 'Solovyov gets drafted and goes crazy.' Solovyov is a notorious Russian TV host.

Druzhina
Illustrations of Costume & Soldiers

Apparently, they already planning to draft Ukrainians into the Russian army in the soon to be freshly minted bits of Russia. I'm assuming that the LPR and DPR militaries are already integrated into the Russian military command structure, but I can't see full integration helping their logistical situation any.
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As all this is going on Russia is planning to annex parts of the Ukraine they occupy. What could possibly go wrong ?

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A terrible shame.

To be fair though, Ukrainian conscripts/volunteers didn't get much more, if any training either, before being called up to serve, and/or do battle against the invaders.

Both sides fighting a "come as you are" war.

An important lesson for those in power in the USA to learn, especially vis a vis, the Baltic States, China, the Taiwan, South China Sea, and Senkakus debacles.

Motivation, Morale, Patriotism… and on a more basic level… viciousness, revenge, hate.. will to Kill… all have places in War.
MOST guys will just want to go Home… but just stuck in the **** . Question is…what 'Home' to go back to? Will Do what they need to do… but in Russia?
IMHO, think Russia will Implode… but when and how???
Sadly, majority of Russians are VERY resilient. MUCH Pride! Both Their strength… and their weakness.

Now, maybe, consider this?
UK… long ago,I certainly thought about signing up 'for Queen and Country'… but did not… circumstances.

Now, so many US Flags flying Proudly, outside homes, in Honour of Service personnel, living or dead… or Patriotism.
Just HOW would someone else feel…Russians / Ukrainians if THEY did not want to fight… to Kill? When Flags Fly?

Up to them.
UK, no War. No Conscription / Draft / National Service.
But way back, during Falklands… used to walk past Recruiting offices and 'think'… and feel ashamed because I did NOT walk in… although I KNEW that it would be absolutely Pointless in circumstances.
Russians… or Ukrainians would feel What?
War on.

The Ukraine has they been fighting to save their nation. They are very motivated and well equipped from NATO, etc. They seem superior in both the defense & attack vs. the Russians who forgot about combined arms, have no motivation, and are dying in large numbers, etc., etc.