OT: Russians crowdsourcing military

[WendyBG]

By word of mouth, Russians have learned that their military in Ukraine are suffering and dying for lack of supplies. Across Russia, grass-roots movements, led in large part by women, have sprung up to crowdsource aid for Russian soldiers. Civilians (with no input from the Russian government) are organizing supply runs, driving hundreds of miles from Russia into Ukraine.

These include medical supplies, backpacks, along with shoes, Q-tips, socks, headlamps, lighters, hats, sugar and batteries. Laser-equipped range finders and night-vision goggles made for hunting from sporting goods stores (not manufactured in Russia). Other “consumer electronics” (could that mean cell phones with GPS?). Consumer drones made by the giant Chinese company DJI which “have become so firmly entrenched in combat operations that it’s become hard to imagine the war without them.” Materials to treat shrapnel wounds and burns were needed “in great quantities” on the Russian side of the front due to American howitzers.

The Russian military’s apparently urgent need for essential medical equipment and basic, foreign-made consumer devices has led some Russians to wonder how the Kremlin has been spending its enormous military budget, more than 3 percent of the country’s total economic output.

Russian generals have treated recruits like disposable cannon fodder for hundreds of years. At least they are feeding them now instead of expecting them to forage for themselves from populations they invade. (At least, they are probably trying to feed them, although the article does mention crowdsourced potatoes.)

The Russian military reminds me of “The Incredible Hulk” (a Marvel comics character). Bang! Smash! Crude force to destroy, with no finesse. From the generals to the supply lines right down to the privates. Is this a cultural attitude? Incompetence? Corruption which diverts the resources that were ordered but not delivered?

It’s amazing how the Ukrainians, with relatively lightweight, inexpensive weapons, are mounting such an effective defense. Amazing that hand-held anti-tank weapons and consumer drones are having such a huge impact.

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/28/world/europe/russian-sold…

Wendy

[Leap1]

Because England is an off shore island the Magna Carta had a chance. Power sharing was established. The English manage conflict across the globe even today in a sense. Setting up conflict for control or managing conflict to get wealthier. The Americans taking such a lead as if the Romans from the Greeks. WW I and WW II are based on the divide between west and east becoming a power vacuum in central Europe.

Russia is so large authoritarian rule is easy to maintain. Hard to change as well. The English suggestions for reform are always ignored.

If the Russian mom’s knew the blood of pregnant raped women, murdered children, butchered old men and women walking…was the work of their boys things would be different. These journeys to feed the troops in the Ukraine will backfire on Putin as the mothers talk to their sons.

The news is in stages. Something happens and then later there is a response.

[steve203]

Across Russia, grass-roots movements, led in large part by women, have sprung up to crowdsource aid for Russian soldiers.

Sure that isn’t FSB propaganda? During the war, the US cranked out lots of film of eager kids organizing scrap drives, while their parents eagerly used a large part of their paychecks to buy war bonds.

Or are these “Astroturf” movements that people engage in with all the vigor of koffing up their annual United Way donation at the office, while their boss glares at them?

Steve

[WendyBG]

<Sure that isn’t FSB propaganda? >

Of course I’m not sure since my only source is the NYT. But it does Putin and his cronies no credit to say that their army in Ukraine is hungry and lacking basic equipment and medical supplies.

Wendy

[steve203]

But it does Putin and his cronies no credit to say that their army in Ukraine is hungry and lacking basic equipment and medical supplies.

Or, “patriotic Russians rallying behind their boys at the front”. Our guys didn’t appear to be short of MREs in Iraq, but I remember holiday appeals for grateful civilians to write Christmas cards to the troops in country telling them how everyone stateside is rooting for them.

Steve

[Leap1]

If it was the FSB the discussion would be muted because admitting there are not enough of supplies would never be on.

If the FSB made this public but without saying there is a lack of supplies then the NYT added in such a talking point.

The result will be the same, Russian moms will get a taste of what their terrible sons are up to in Ukraine.

I believe it for another reason. In poor countries when someone is sent to prison the parents often have to supply the child in prison. This is common and the next step of supplying children fighting a war zone is not much different in that regard.