"Question for Cuprum 2 concerning Youtube video" Topic

I watched a video today and thought it gave an interesting perspective concerning Russian soldiers currently fighting in Ukraine. I am curious concerning what Cuprum 2 thinks about the perspective expressed in this video. I promise Cuprum that I am not trying to gaslight you. I have a Russian student, but outside of him, I don't currently know any other Russians whom I can ask concerning their opinions on such matters. I would appreciate it if you would watch this video and let me know what you think. Here is a link to the YouTube video: YouTube link

Thank you,
Kevin

Powerful, well reasoned and presented video.

I was about to stop commenting on politics – it's pointless and a waste of time. But since you addressed me personally…

I couldn't watch it for more than five minutes… This is pure anti-Russian propaganda according to the classic recipe: 40% truth, 60% lies.

For example…

In Russia, a large-scale fight against corruption in the army and defense structures has been going on for over a year, as a result of which the Minister of Defense has been removed, and dozens of senior generals and officials are on trial or have already been convicted:

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As for General Popov, it is a murky case. Apparently, he really expressed dissatisfaction with the army's top leadership (already convicted at the moment), for which corrupt officials organized criminal prosecution against him. But this would not have been possible if the papers had not been discovered, with the help of which hundreds of tons of metal intended for the construction of fortifications on the "Surovikin Line", where the Ukrainian offensive was stalled in 2023, were stolen. These papers bear the signature of General Popov. They wanted to convict him for bribery, but later the case was reclassified as official negligence. And he received a criminal sentence for this. However, thanks to public support, the general was not sent to prison, but was given the opportunity to go to the front lines and, after serving for six months, completely get rid of his criminal record, regain his rank, awards and career. Please note that this is hardly possible in a corrupt authoritarian country.

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Thank you for responding. As I said before, I only knew one other Russian whose opinion I could ask concerning this matter.

Russian Spending Exceeds Everyone

"ussian defense spending reached nearly half a trillion dollars last year, which is 6.7 percent of GDP. It is also more than the combined spending of all the other European countries. Russian spending is expected to reach 7.5 percent of GDP in 2025. But by 2026 or 2027 economic and military reality will catch up with the Russian war effort. That's because the Russian people are fed up with the lack of jobs, consumer goods and basic food supplies. Government officials are concentrating on money making activities and consider the war an annoying lost cause. Vladimir Putin eventually lost the support of the wealthy oligarchs because these businessmen were losing their fortunes to inflation and western sanctions. Without western components there was not much Russian factories could produce besides basic commodities using local resources.

Meanwhile the Russian military tried to stem troop losses by hiring North Korea and Chinese mercenaries. All this did was slow down the collapse. This mess could have been avoided if Putin had paid attention to what happened before the war.

Five years earlier the Russian economy was taking a beating because of low oil prices and Western economic sanctions imposed after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2014. Growing support from NATO countries helped inflict a catastrophic defeat on the Russian economy. This was done by crippling Russian defense industries with sanctions.

Eight years ago Russia was facing population decline, corruption, and an increasingly inefficient police state. This prompted an exodus of its best educated and most entrepreneurial citizens. Russia was no longer a great power and, as much as Russians would talk about regaining their superpower economic status, that did not happen…"

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Armand