Contents tagged with Russian army
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Former Russian executives sentenced in secret bunker embezzlement case
In a high-stakes case involving allegations of corruption and fraud, the Second Western District Military Court has announced sentences for those implicated in the embezzlement scandal surrounding secret underground bunker construction for the Ministry of Defense. According to TASS, former deputy director of LLC "Atlas," Dmitry Pipko, and former general director of LLC "M-Stroy," Andrey Epifantsev, received sentences of seven years and three years in a general regime penal colony, with fines of …
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Russia struggles with military recruitment amid soaring frontline losses
The Russian military, engaged in a risky war against Ukraine for nearly three years, is grappling with mounting challenges. Despite boosting contract signing bonuses, the influx of volunteers continues to decline while frontline losses soar to record levels. Putin is avoiding full-scale mobilization due to fears of declining popularity among Russians.
According to the news outlet Meduza, in the third quarter of 2024, the Russian army was enlisting about 600 contract soldiers daily— …
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Russia's losses in artillery amount to $8 billion since the start of the year
September 22 marked the "darkest day" for the Russian army as Ukrainian forces reportedly destroyed 81 Russian artillery systems in a single day.
From January through October this year, the Ukrainian Armed Forces have destroyed a total of 10,373 Russian artillery systems, inflicting financial devastation of at least $8 billion, reported the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense.
According to their data, the destruction on September 22 equates to what the General Staff describes as the obliteration of …
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Russian military commanders enforce strict phone ban to conceal frontline struggles and silence dissent
In a bid to curb frontline information leaks, Russian commanders are imposing stringent measures on soldiers by confiscating their phones. This move aims to prevent troops from discussing battlefield conditions, casualties, and injuries with their families. Confiscated phones are reportedly being smashed and then nailed to walls, trees, and other structures. Soldiers who resist these orders are threatened with detention or forced to participate in dangerous "meat assaults."
These measures are …
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Former commander of Russian 58th Army detained on fraud charges
A court in Russia has ordered the detention of Ivan Popov, former commander of the 58th Army of the Southern Military District, for two months, reports TASS, citing law enforcement agencies.
According to the Russian news outlet, Popov has been accused of large-scale fraud. No further details have been provided by TASS.
At the same time, the Telegram channel Mash reports that the Russian general has been accused of illegally selling 2,000 tonnes of metal structures worth approximately 100 …
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Serbian mercenary recruiter slams Russian army leadership for poor treatment and lack of support
Dejan Beric, a Serbian mercenary recruiter for the Russian army, has criticized the leadership of the 119th Parachute Assault Regiment which includes foreign troops. In a video statement released on VKontakte social network on Monday, January 8, Beric, dressed in a t-shirt emblazoned with 'Putin's Team. The People’s Front' complained that Russian commanders are refusing to supply the Serbians with sufficient weaponry and lack of medical treatment for the wounded.
Beric claims that he had to …
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Putin promises unlimited financing for the Russian army
The Russian Defense Ministry has no restrictions on financing, and therefore the country's leadership expects appropriate results from the army on the battlefield, said Russian President Vladimir Putin at a meeting of the Russian Defense Ministry.
"We have no funding restrictions. The country, the government gives everything the army asks for. All. I hope that the answer will be properly formulated, and appropriate results will be achieved," Putin said.
He added that Russia plans to "maintain …
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Russia increases military spending
The Kremlin has decided to abandon plans to freeze defense spending, which were included in the three-year budget adopted last year.
The total amount of military expenditures in the 2022-24 federal budget will increase by 15%, accordint to the explanatory note to the draft budget, TASS reports.
The budget bill for 2021 initially included 3.113 trillion rubles ($43 billion) to finance the army and procurement of weapons - 196 billion rubles ($2.69 billion) less than a year earlier.
But within …
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Russia to include ‘readiness for war’ in its National Security Strategy
The Russian Security Council is preparing an updated National Security Strategy, which will replace the previous version adopted in December 2015.
The new document will take into account the changes in the military and political situation, the increase in military risks and military threats, Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev told Rossiyskaya Gazeta.
The updated strategy will note the "legitimacy of taking symmetrical and asymmetrical measures to counter and prevent unfriendly …
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Russia to spend another $290 billion on weapons production
The Russian state program of arms production, which started in 2007 and was extended in 2011 and 2018, is becoming indefinite in the post-Soviet history of Russia.
Having spent almost 22 trillion ($290 billion) rubles over ten years on the rearmament of the army, the Kremlin plans to keep the financing of the defense procurement at the same levels until 2035, Andrei Yelchaninov, the first deputy chairman of the Military-Industrial Commission of the Russian Federation, said in an interview with …