Why the Russian Federation hasn't switched over to an all-volunteer force by now is a mystery. Getting enough kids to volunteer shouldn't be a problem, if they know that they will be treated as professionals and be given respect. Well that, and getting to shoot and blow up stuff for free.

It is my understanding that Russian culture is not that much different than American culture, in these respects. So if it works for the US, especially during a time of war, it should work well for Russia.

Some may say that the US has had problems with recruiting over the last few years. However, if you would look at the data, the US military had no problems recruiting enough active duty "trigger-pullers", it was the reserves and support staff (cooks, transportation, etc.) that were coming up short.

Hello Jason,
It would be insane for anyone to "volunteer" for Russian Army service. Unfortunately, it is equal to volunteering for a slow torturous death sentence. Please read previous postings about the atrocities and abuses of the army. It is unconscienable and horrific. In my opinion, the army should be outlawed, and the officers in charge of its operation should be court martialed and shot.

Ideally, every free country should have a volunteer army. America was built on that, and still today it is the practice. As a mother, I fear the potential of a mandatory draft, as mother's in the 1960'and 70's faced. But certainly, the "enemy" conditions my sons would face are posh and insulated from danger compared to what a typical soldier in the Russian army faces from HIS OWN COMRADES.

It would be a grave mistake to volunteer naively for the Russian army today.

I fail to see how the world "absurdity" is an appropriate description of the army's actions in these cases. Wouldn't something like "outrage" be better? What exactly is it about this murder that you find ridiculous? Isn't it tragic, rather than absurd? Perhaps the first step to resolving th problem is to view it in its proper light.

I could envisage Ivanov posting 'Discipline Commissars' to every unit to try and put a lid on such things.

Reform efforts on that front seem to be patchy, but then again only a couple of years ago when plans were announced for 'military reform' by the government, they were not taken seriously by western commentators. In reality, more 'reforms' have been rolled out since, particularly in culling the top-heavy bureacracy, streamlining weapons purchases (most of the dead wood (i.e. most expensive legacy items have been mothballed)) and actually being able to buy more than just a handful of new systems and upgrades, and finally a greater reduction of the size of the forces, seems to be gathering apace...

Putin and co may have ended the opt-out for those who wish to avoid military service, but Chechnya has bottomed out. Even the UN has upgraded it's status so that it's personel can now travel the roads and can stay overnight...

Obviously, the current practices would have to be abolished before a professional, volunteer military could be formed.

This could not happen over-night, but with some leadership, the military colleges could first be reformed. Once you had educated, "human" officers running the show, the culture of abuse could be slowly weeded out. It would take at least a decade, maybe two, to turn things around, but I don't see how Russia has any other choice, if it wants to protect siberia and stay relevant in world affairs.

Well, certainly outrage is the better description for a general response to such behavior. However, absurdity seems to fit aptly when discussing renting out soldiers for housekeeping and construction purposes. Clearly, the discipline and chain of command in this army is severely lacking anything approaching professionalism.

Question:

Over the past five years, have there been any signs of improvement vis-a-vis the conditions in the Russian armed forces?

Quelle suprise:

Military Police Seen as Answer to Hazing - MT 21.08.06
http://www.themoscowtimes.com/stories/2006/08/21/011.html

"...Each military commandant's office would have up to 90 military police officers, and would be provided with cars and armored vehicles, Gazeta.ru reported last Thursday. The offices would also operate gauptvakhty, or military detention facilities, which the Defense Ministry hopes will improve discipline in the armed forces..."

Announced by Putin, Jan. 31, it seems like a response to the hazing horror stories, but if it was a PR 'stunt', it seems to have now taken on some solid and concrete importance. Considering the Defense Ministry's previous goal of having only a volunteer force and phasing out 'contractny', it makes sense that the only real way to improve voluntary recruitment is to make the army less brutal.

I wonder what level of resistance there was originally to the MP plan and by whom, and whether the Putin administration usde the more recent hazing horror stories to help overcome any opposition in getting the policy operational?

As the article notes, keeping the competence of military police within the Defence Ministry could severly limit its effectiveness.

I also wonder whether petty power bureacracy might scupper it (Ivanov not wanting the Justice Ministry meddling in 'military affairs')?

Finally, no comment on whether the MPs are to be funded from the currently proposed
military budget as upgrades/repairs + purchase of military systems desperately needed,
or from extra spending.