1/ Russia is proclaiming success in its ongoing recruitment drive, but this is being achieved by scraping the bottom of the barrel. A newly-published video shows the abysmal quality of the current recruits: old, disabled, and homeless men, with only two fingers between them. ⬇️
2/ The video shows three newly recruited men in Omsk. Despite having severe physical disabilities, all three are recognised as medically fit for military service at a selection point called Sirius. They have signed a contract and will be sent to Ukraine.
3/ It was filmed at an office of the 1442nd Motorized Rifle Regiment (military unit 95383) of the 6th Motorized Rifle Division (military unit 77860) of the 3rd Army Corps (military unit 41794).
4/ The men include 58-year-old Maxim Petrovich Beregovoy and 49-year-old Anvar Atabaevich Khasanov, who have only two fingers between them. Beregovoy, who is homeless, has none, and Khasanov has lost eight. It's not clear how they are expected to be able to use weapons or tools.
5/ The third newly arrived soldier, Alexander Vladimirovich, has a pronounced speech impediment. This is a typical symptom of a serious neurological condition – from his appearance, most likely caused by chronic alcoholism.
6/ Alexander Romanov comments sarcastically:
"Russian Defence Minister Belousov, who allowed himself to be mistaken, said:
'The recruitment of contract servicemen for the Russian Armed Forces is ahead of schedule.'"
"Russian Defence Minister Belousov, who allowed himself to be mistaken, said:
'The recruitment of contract servicemen for the Russian Armed Forces is ahead of schedule.'"
7/ "The footage shows the reason for this 'advancement.'
And the author observes this 'quality' of recruitment systematically."
And the author observes this 'quality' of recruitment systematically."
8/ The video illustrates the widespread phenomenon of grossly unfit men being accepted for service in the Russian army. This is a long-standing issue that Russian warbloggers have often complained about, as they have little or no military utility.
https://x.com/ChrisO_wiki/status/2033829369257283856
9/ Their acceptance is the result of a series of scams which end up costing the state a lot of money. Corrupt police officers often pick up and 'sell' socially marginalised individuals to army recruitment offices, gaining a cash bonus from doing so.
10/ The office staff sign up anyone they can to meet quotas, whether or not they are fit to serve. It also gives them the opportunity to steal the recruit's enlistment bonus and salary.
11/ The Ministry of Defence is happy to accept them, because it means it can report to Putin that it has met its recruitment targets.
12/ The people it doesn't work for are frontline commanders, who are saddled with recruits who are useless – and the recruits themselves, whom the commanders often send to their deaths in order to get rid of them. /end
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