Putin's reliance on mercenaries 'backfires' after one of them guns down Russian lieutenant colonel:

[tblue37]

Putin's reliance on mercenaries 'backfires' after one of them guns down Russian lieutenant colonel: report

Matthew Chapman
October 05, 2022

On Wednesday, The Daily Beast reported that Vladimir Putin's effort to mobilize mercenaries for his war effort in Ukraine is descending into disaster, with one of them killing a Russian lieutenant colonel in an incident the Kremlin is trying to cover up.

"The Kremlin’s flailing bid to get an edge on the battlefield by deploying mercenaries from the Wagner Group — which now includes hundreds of prison inmates — has reportedly backfired as the private military force butts heads with the Russian military," reported Allison Quinn. "The growing conflict resulted in a Wagner fighter gunning down a lieutenant colonel in the Russian army — a deadly episode of 'friendly fire' that the Kremlin is said to be trying to sweep under the rug, according to the human rights group Gulagu.net."

Per the report, the incident — which took place in an unknown area — was highlighted by two Russian Telegram channels. And it is just the latest in a series of violent incidents within the ranks.

"Earlier this week, a mass brawl broke out between newly drafted Russian troops and contract soldiers at a military base outside Moscow, Baza reported," said the report. "Nearly two dozen contract soldiers are said to have taken a beating from the draftees and were rescued after locking themselves in a separate room and phoning police for help. The fight reportedly erupted after some of the contract soldiers demanded the newly arrived draftees hand over their mobile phones and gear. The tumult seen between the troops has also visibly carried over to Russia’s wider information space, with pro-Kremlin military bloggers getting increasingly outspoken in their criticisms of top military command and Putin’s more radical allies publicly deriding those in charge of the war."

Snip

[Jenny von Westphalen]

1. The Daily Beast article

https://www.thedailybeast.com/vladimir-putins-dueling-foot-soldiers-in-ukraine-are-now-apparently-killing-each-other-off

[Hugin]

2. Damn, straight out of "Dr Zhivago".

Only thing missing was a water barrel. Maybe.

[greatauntoftriplets]

6. Yes, that scene came to mind when I read the OP.

[C_U_L8R]

3. Seems Pootie didn't read up on the fall of the Roman Empire.

[Aristus]

4. A mercenary behaving like an irresponsible, unreliable killer? I'm shocked.

This is my shocked face:

[grumpyduck]

5. To paraphrase Pogo:

"They have met the enemy and it is them."

[RussellCattle]

12. Nicely done. I miss Pogo, but I guess it was way too subtle for todays news environment.

[Torchlight]

7. 'The Russian Understanding of War; Blurring the Lines between War and Peace.'

Oscar Jonsson wrote a brilliant analysis (imo) called 'The Russian Understanding of War; Blurring the Lines between War and Peace.'

He deconstructs myths and misunderstandings like the Gerasimov doctrine and Russian hybrid warfare, and gives eye-opening insight of the conscription policies Moscow has been using for a generation.

What stood out the most to me was the apathy in the military directly resulting from their method of conscription, and that nco rank was getting nearer and nearer to almost an absolute irrelevance; that rank hierarchy slowly but consistently being replaced by a soldier's bank accounts, organized crime contacts, etc.

So I guess I'm not too surprised too see more and more indications that Moscow's army is teetering on the brink of slowly imploding in on itself.

[Lonestarblue]

11. Russia has a government and an economy based on corruption, beginning at the top.

That corruption is one reason that Russia’s military has performed so poorly. Money allocated for the military has most likely been siphoned into personal pockets all along the chain of command. What Putin has unintentionally demonstrated to the world is that Russia’s military might is a sham. His army is a joke, and his only remaining military power lies in threats to use nuclear weapons. Those threats are not empty, but I wonder about the maintenance over the years of the land-based infrastructure for launching tactical nuclear weapons as well as the maintenance of the weapons themselves. If the condition and quality of the army are any indication, those weapons may not have been maintained for years.

I have no clue what happens to nuclear weapons that are left in storage for years. The US spends millions to rest and assess nuclear weapons each year, but there are concerns even here about our aging weapons. Given the level of corruption in Russia, is it likely that the money to maintain the smaller nuclear weapons has simple disappeared?

According to a recent Business Insider article, the chaos in Russia’s army would prevent it from using tactical nuclear weapons. ISW is the Institute for the Study of War.

“According to the ISW, the Russian military in its current state would likely be unable to operate on a nuclear battlefield, despite it having the necessary equipment and historically trained units.

Its troops, who are currently a "chaotic agglomeration" of tired soldiers, hastily mobilized reservists, and mercenaries, "could not function in a nuclear environment," the think tank said.

The use of Russian tactical nuclear weapons would render areas impassable and therefore prevent Russian advances, according to the think tank.”

https://www.businessinsider.com/russian-military-incapable-of-operating-on-nuclear-battlefield-think-tank-2022-10?op=1

[Warpy]

19. It begins at the top and goes all the way down

One snippet I read is that a warehouse full of winter gear for the military was found to be empty.

You and I know after it had sat there for a few years, somebody just sold it, made a packet, and left.

[keithbvadu2]

13. The Mighty and Macho Russian Army praised by Cruz (never served) and MTG while denigrating American

The Mighty and Macho Russian Army praised by Cruz (never served) and MTG while denigrating American troops.

[jaxexpat]

15. It's like Lucky Luciano conscripted his own mob army.

Except those guys would be wiser. And better paid.

[ZonkerHarris]

8. Sure, go ahead and try to take the cell phone of a guy who was just grabbed off the street

in Moscow.
That guy has no fucks to give and will frag your ass mercenary dude

[KS Toronado]

9. Then he'll take the mercenary dude's phone

and call in his surrender.

[tanyev]

10. Gosh, nobody (who actually talks to Putin) could have predicted that.

But pretty much everybody else did.

[multigraincracker]

14. Has he brought in any Black Water men yet?

Be right up that alley.

[eppur_se_muova]

16. Well, at least they're inflicting casualties.

Perhaps the instructions needed clarification.

[TigressDem]

22. this

[DinahMoeHum]

17. This is why Machiavelli warned against using mercenaries.

Mercenaries. Will. Flip. On. You.

[2naSalit]

18. +1

[WinstonSmith4740]

20. OK, let me make sure I have this.

That mastermind Putin thought releasing men from a (checks notes) Russian prison and arming them was a good idea. I had just pictured them going into Ukraine, immediately surrendering, turning over their weapons, and disappearing. This is better.

[TigressDem]

21. oops