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The Hollow Legions
Mar. 4th, 2022 03:41 pmOne thing I'm really starting to notice in the reports coming out of Ukraine is the effects of kleptocracy on the Russian military units. Vehicles have inadequate tires, haven't been maintained or moved for perhaps years, soldiers' equipment is substandard, and their rations are years past their shelf life.
Corruption in the Russian defense structure has led to what we are seeing, the Hollow Legions effect. Armor crews that don't know how to operate their vehicles, equipment failing. . .that infamous column north of Kyiv is immobile because not only have most of the units run out of gas, many vehicles are simply falling apart and there are no mechanics or spare parts available.
When I was in the 3/7th (Cottonbalers, By God!) we spent endless days at the motor pool doing PMCS (Preventive Maintenence, checks, and Services) on our tracks until every man in the squad could fix minor issues. We all knew how to break track and repair a broken tread. We were infantrymen who knew that our -113 was our taxi and shelter, and it was up to us to keep it in fighting trim.
The Russians don't have that. Instead, I'm sure that many officers and apparatchiki have very nice dachas and imported cars, as well as hidden bank accounts. But they've left a hollow army that can barely fight.
Corruption in the Russian defense structure has led to what we are seeing, the Hollow Legions effect. Armor crews that don't know how to operate their vehicles, equipment failing. . .that infamous column north of Kyiv is immobile because not only have most of the units run out of gas, many vehicles are simply falling apart and there are no mechanics or spare parts available.
When I was in the 3/7th (Cottonbalers, By God!) we spent endless days at the motor pool doing PMCS (Preventive Maintenence, checks, and Services) on our tracks until every man in the squad could fix minor issues. We all knew how to break track and repair a broken tread. We were infantrymen who knew that our -113 was our taxi and shelter, and it was up to us to keep it in fighting trim.
The Russians don't have that. Instead, I'm sure that many officers and apparatchiki have very nice dachas and imported cars, as well as hidden bank accounts. But they've left a hollow army that can barely fight.
