1/ Russian soldiers are being sent to their deaths by the military police for infractions as trivial as not wearing a seatbelt. Many avoid doing so in order to jump out quickly if their vehicle is attacked by a drone, but they are finding that they face death either way. ⬇️
2/ The Military Police (VPs) are the target of widespread hatred from ordinary Russian soldiers for their corruption and zealous enforcement of arbitrary rules. They are also helping to meet the army replenish depleted assault units by sending arrested individuals to them.
3/ Russian warblogger Alexander Zhuchkovsky writes:
"In colloquial speech among soldiers, enemies are often referred to as "faggots" or "roosters." This is a simpler and more common derogatory term among soldiers than "khokhols."
4/ "But this isn't about Ukrainians. I've increasingly noticed that our soldiers are calling members of our military police "faggots."
5/ "I don't like it. Many military police are worthy and courageous men who share all the risks in the war zone, manning checkpoints and dying from enemy drones. But the poor behavior of many military police officers and commanders casts a shadow on everyone else.
6/ "Why is there such intense hostility toward military police officers, and why are they being treated as enemies?
7/ "In recent weeks, the military police have sharply tightened their requirements for soldiers and military vehicles. Violations of these requirements not only result in fines but also include them on lists of violators, creating the risk of being sent to assault units.
8/ "Of course, there are military laws that cannot be broken. There are legal requirements that go uncontested. And there are serious violations that should be punished—for example, violating prohibition, transporting military cargo without documentation, or transport…
9/ …in disrepair. But this isn't the point. What's at issue is the large number of formalities and minor violations for which strict scrutiny and accountability have begun. And not only for rear-echelon personnel, but also for those performing combat missions.
10/ "Clearly, this isn't happening at the line of contact itself. But problems and the power of the military begin to arise beyond the first checkpoints.
11/ "The list of violations for which scrutiny is growing. They're being cited for "non-regulation" dress code. This is despite the fact that in many places, wearing a military uniform is even prohibited—to avoid attracting attention and blending in with the local population.
12/ "They're also being cited for identical handwriting on accompanying documents—meaning the driver, not the commander, made the mark and signature. And how will the commander make a note if he's on a combat mission, and the driver urgently needs to leave for another?
13/ "They cite minor breakdowns or minor malfunctions in vehicles, like a cracked windshield or broken headlight. This vehicle, meanwhile, is used daily at the front and doesn't even have time for repairs (there aren't enough vehicles, so there's nothing to replace them with).
14/ "Furthermore, repairs require money, which is always in short supply, or spare parts, which aren't always available.
15/ "They arrest you for stopping military vehicles at stores. Some military personnel say this is simply prohibited, others say it's illegal to leave a vehicle without a soldier. But what if the driver is driving alone and needs to get water or a snack? It's still his fault.
16/ "They arrest you for driving through populated areas not listed in the accompanying documents. And we're not talking about a city, but some village where a military police patrol suddenly shows up, eager to catch persistent violators.
17/ "The route can be 200 kilometres long, and it's simply impossible to list every populated area the vehicle passes through in the document. And this is despite the fact that the document stipulates that soldiers have the right to use bypass routes if the situation changes.
18/ "They even charge you for not wearing a seat belt! And not only in rear areas, but even near the front line, where there's a constant FPV danger and wearing a seat belt is downright dangerous—you won't have time to jump out of the car.
19/ "Even in large cities, when they were under fire, regular police ignored seat belts. And here, military police charge soldiers for wearing seat belts. Absurd.
20/ "There are many similar examples. This might seem outlandish to a civilian, but for us, it's everyday reality. When I tell people about this, they don't believe me. Or they say, "Fuck them, you're just doing combat missions!"
It's not that simple." /end
Source:
t.me/juchkovsky/4942
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