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Understanding 9/11tv Putins Risk Mobilization Failures TVRAINENG November 12, 2022 3:00am-3:22am MSK
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by calling for a nationwide mobilization by calling for a nationwide mobilization by calling for a nationwide mobilization of reserve soldiers in september of reserve soldiers in september of reserve soldiers in september vladimir putin and his administration vladimir putin and his administration vladimir putin and his administration took on a giant risk that kremlin took on a giant risk that kremlin took on a giant risk that kremlin brought the war directly into their brought the war directly into their brought the war directly into their homes and hearts of millions of russians homes and hearts of millions of russians homes and hearts of millions of russians and in the immediate wake of the call up and in the immediate wake of the call up and in the immediate wake of the call up hundreds of thousands of russian men hundreds of thousands of russian men hundreds of thousands of russian men fled the country tens of thousands found fled the country tens of thousands found fled the country tens of thousands found themselves in the army after choosing to themselves in the army after choosing to themselves in the army after choosing to stay now these mobilized soldiers are stay now these mobilized soldiers are stay now these mobilized soldiers are being sent to the front lines by being sent to the front lines by being sent to the front lines by military leadership that drops them off military leadership that drops them off military leadership that drops them off in the forest and leaves them on their in the forest and leaves them on their in the forest and leaves them on their own often with insufficient training own often with insufficient training own often with insufficient training poor equipment and no ammunition earlier poor equipment and no ammunition earlier poor equipment and no ammunition earlier this month more than 100 soldiers from this month more than 100 soldiers from this month more than 100 soldiers from truvashir region who were mobilized truvashir region who were mobilized truvashir region who were mobilized organized as soldiers to labor strike in organized as soldiers to labor strike in organized as soldiers to labor strike in the city of ulyanovsk to demand proper the city of ulyanovsk to demand proper the city of ulyanovsk to demand proper equipment and the pay bonus that equipment and the pay bonus that equipment and the pay bonus that vladimir putin promised in october
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[000:01:26;00] and now average russians from around the and now average russians from around the and now average russians from around the country are raising their voices to country are raising their voices to country are raising their voices to complain that everything in the military complain that everything in the military complain that everything in the military supply chain is broken and nothing is supply chain is broken and nothing is supply chain is broken and nothing is being done to prepare the mobilized for being done to prepare the mobilized for being done to prepare the mobilized for combat questions
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[000:01:54;00] foreign [000:02:26;00] district between the black sea and the district between the black sea and the district between the black sea and the caspian soldiers posted social media caspian soldiers posted social media caspian soldiers posted social media videos that show equipment provided by videos that show equipment provided by videos that show equipment provided by their local governor andrei krishkov their local governor andrei krishkov their local governor andrei krishkov waterproof rubber gardening boots waterproof rubber gardening boots waterproof rubber gardening boots instead of protective winter military instead of protective winter military instead of protective winter military footwear cheap and dull knife blades footwear cheap and dull knife blades footwear cheap and dull knife blades that bend sideways but don't cut that bend sideways but don't cut that bend sideways but don't cut rucksacks that trip apart like paper rucksacks that trip apart like paper rucksacks that trip apart like paper dolls klitschkov quickly took to social dolls klitschkov quickly took to social dolls klitschkov quickly took to social media to respond and in his tie and media to respond and in his tie and media to respond and in his tie and short sleeves explained that the short sleeves explained that the short sleeves explained that the governor's office bought everything they governor's office bought everything they
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governor's office bought everything they could and then gave mobilized soldiers could and then gave mobilized soldiers could and then gave mobilized soldiers these items because there was nothing these items because there was nothing these items because there was nothing else in stock klichkov also said if the else in stock klichkov also said if the else in stock klichkov also said if the reservists didn't like it they could buy reservists didn't like it they could buy reservists didn't like it they could buy their own i cannot imagine that i would their own i cannot imagine that i would their own i cannot imagine that i would destroy the clothes given to me after destroy the clothes given to me after destroy the clothes given to me after having a drink then tell everyone how having a drink then tell everyone how having a drink then tell everyone how bad their quality was i don't know if it bad their quality was i don't know if it bad their quality was i don't know if it was their own stuff or stuff that was was their own stuff or stuff that was was their own stuff or stuff that was given to them that's on their conscience given to them that's on their conscience given to them that's on their conscience nevertheless we have reserves for this nevertheless we have reserves for this nevertheless we have reserves for this kind of situation and when i go visit kind of situation and when i go visit kind of situation and when i go visit the boys in smileyansk we'll replace the boys in smileyansk we'll replace the boys in smileyansk we'll replace anything that's torn up you say we anything that's torn up you say we anything that's torn up you say we bought the cheapest possible uniforms bought the cheapest possible uniforms bought the cheapest possible uniforms for the guys but we bought the best for the guys but we bought the best for the guys but we bought the best available with our resources there was available with our resources there was available with our resources there was nothing else all this talk about nothing else all this talk about nothing else all this talk about uniforms now people are getting paid if uniforms now people are getting paid if uniforms now people are getting paid if you want you can get a new uniform you want you can get a new uniform you want you can get a new uniform yourself people are breaking their yourself people are breaking their yourself people are breaking their knives why would you do that explain it knives why would you do that explain it knives why would you do that explain it to me please i can destroy whatever i to me please i can destroy whatever i to me please i can destroy whatever i want to i could take my tie and tear up want to i could take my tie and tear up want to i could take my tie and tear up right now or my shirt and say it was a right now or my shirt and say it was a right now or my shirt and say it was a bad quality shirt but you take what you bad quality shirt but you take what you bad quality shirt but you take what you can get in other parts of russia the can get in other parts of russia the can get in other parts of russia the situation is much the same from situation is much the same from situation is much the same from novosibirsk and experienced artillery novosibirsk and experienced artillery
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novosibirsk and experienced artillery soldier went back into the army soldier went back into the army soldier went back into the army voluntarily and even bought his own voluntarily and even bought his own voluntarily and even bought his own clothing and equipment but found himself clothing and equipment but found himself clothing and equipment but found himself assigned to the mining operations in a assigned to the mining operations in a assigned to the mining operations in a non-art [000:04:10;00] said he supported russia's special said he supported russia's special said he supported russia's special military operation in ukraine but now military operation in ukraine but now military operation in ukraine but now finds himself using equipment 30 years finds himself using equipment 30 years finds himself using equipment 30 years older than he is and completely older than he is and completely older than he is and completely incapable of detecting modern landmines incapable of detecting modern landmines incapable of detecting modern landmines with his fellow soldiers he is now with his fellow soldiers he is now with his fellow soldiers he is now crowdfunding on social media for better crowdfunding on social media for better crowdfunding on social media for better tools tools tools perhaps most troubling for the kremlin perhaps most troubling for the kremlin perhaps most troubling for the kremlin are the mothers of mobilized sons from are the mothers of mobilized sons from are the mothers of mobilized sons from the voronis region who took brave steps the voronis region who took brave steps the voronis region who took brave steps and publicly called for their boys to be and publicly called for their boys to be and publicly called for their boys to be brought back saying they're alone at the brought back saying they're alone at the brought back saying they're alone at the conflict line with no senior officers conflict line with no senior officers
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conflict line with no senior officers with nothing but an automatic rifle for with nothing but an automatic rifle for with nothing but an automatic rifle for defense [000:04:51;00] if that is [000:05:38;00] and in ukraine itself recently mobilized and in ukraine itself recently mobilized and in ukraine itself recently mobilized russian soldiers from the moscow region russian soldiers from the moscow region russian soldiers from the moscow region were captured together outside svatova were captured together outside svatova were captured together outside svatova after less than a month back in service after less than a month back in service after less than a month back in service and described in a video released by and described in a video released by and described in a video released by ukraine's military how their leadership
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ukraine's military how their leadership ukraine's military how their leadership left them with no food in wet foxholes
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left them with no food in wet foxholes left them with no food in wet foxholes and then sheltered their own troops for and then sheltered their own troops for and then sheltered their own troops for three days in crossfire [000:06:07;00] foreign [000:06:35;00] foreign [000:07:09;00] away from the front lines in ukraine away from the front lines in ukraine away from the front lines in ukraine russia's regional governors and local russia's regional governors and local russia's regional governors and local administrators can shift blame to avoid administrators can shift blame to avoid administrators can shift blame to avoid direct conflict with mobilized soldiers direct conflict with mobilized soldiers direct conflict with mobilized soldiers or mothers but in the occupied territory or mothers but in the occupied territory or mothers but in the occupied territory of the donetsk region military officials of the donetsk region military officials of the donetsk region military officials have recently begun to imprison soldiers have recently begun to imprison soldiers have recently begun to imprison soldiers who refuse to fight and threaten them who refuse to fight and threaten them who refuse to fight and threaten them with the firing line execution the with the firing line execution the with the firing line execution the sister of one soldier being held for sister of one soldier being held for sister of one soldier being held for refusing to fight that her brother's refusing to fight that her brother's refusing to fight that her brother's group was sent to the front just nine group was sent to the front just nine group was sent to the front just nine days after being called up instead of days after being called up instead of days after being called up instead of receiving a two-month combat course as receiving a two-month combat course as receiving a two-month combat course as promised my brother's wife wrote to both promised my brother's wife wrote to both promised my brother's wife wrote to both the ministry of defense and the the ministry of defense and the the ministry of defense and the department for the protection of human department for the protection of human
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department for the protection of human rights she wrote several letters with no rights she wrote several letters with no rights she wrote several letters with no results they all forward the messages to results they all forward the messages to results they all forward the messages to each other they say it was transferred each other they say it was transferred each other they say it was transferred to the next department but they never to the next department but they never to the next department but they never say anything specific or do anything say anything specific or do anything say anything specific or do anything nothing at all military analyst iger nothing at all military analyst iger nothing at all military analyst iger drive says recent combat losses for drive says recent combat losses for drive says recent combat losses for russia have become so problematic in russia have become so problematic in russia have become so problematic in ukraine that military commanders have ukraine that military commanders have ukraine that military commanders have simply fallen back on an old practice of simply fallen back on an old practice of simply fallen back on an old practice of plugging holes in the front lines with plugging holes in the front lines with plugging holes in the front lines with cannon fodder cannon fodder cannon fodder and it is due to the poor quality of and it is due to the poor quality of and it is due to the poor quality of training of the soldiers that were sent training of the soldiers that were sent training of the soldiers that were sent to the front this is quite obvious and to the front this is quite obvious and to the front this is quite obvious and it seems that they're being assigned it seems that they're being assigned it seems that they're being assigned tasks that they're not ready to perform tasks that they're not ready to perform tasks that they're not ready to perform the russian military leadership has made the russian military leadership has made the russian military leadership has made the decision to do this because the the decision to do this because the the decision to do this because the situation in certain areas of the front situation in certain areas of the front situation in certain areas of the front was very critical so they decided to was very critical so they decided to was very critical so they decided to plug the holes in the front line with plug the holes in the front line with plug the holes in the front line with cannon fodder there's nothing to be cannon fodder there's nothing to be cannon fodder there's nothing to be surprised about here it's a pretty surprised about here it's a pretty surprised about here it's a pretty common practice and i think it's neither common practice and i think it's neither common practice and i think it's neither the first nor last time that russian the first nor last time that russian the first nor last time that russian military leadership has made such a military leadership has made such a military leadership has made such a decision what is wrong with the russian decision what is wrong with the russian decision what is wrong with the russian army is this a new trend or it would be army is this a new trend or it would be
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army is this a new trend or it would be necessary to know the history of the necessary to know the history of the necessary to know the history of the kremlin's force to answer this question kremlin's force to answer this question kremlin's force to answer this question we are now joined by long-time bbc we are now joined by long-time bbc we are now joined by long-time bbc moscow correspondent and international moscow correspondent and international moscow correspondent and international affairs editor at france 24 robert affairs editor at france 24 robert affairs editor at france 24 robert parsons parsons parsons hi robert good to see you on tv rain i hi robert good to see you on tv rain i hi robert good to see you on tv rain i think this is the first experience we think this is the first experience we think this is the first experience we are talking are talking are talking um and you know it means a lot to me um and you know it means a lot to me um and you know it means a lot to me because we know each other for a very because we know each other for a very because we know each other for a very very long time and i know that you have very long time and i know that you have very long time and i know that you have a huge experience a huge experience a huge experience considering russian military and you considering russian military and you considering russian military and you know you have been there at the war in know you have been there at the war in know you have been there at the war in chechnya you have sin with your own eyes chechnya you have sin with your own eyes chechnya you have sin with your own eyes how this system works and could you how this system works and could you how this system works and could you please in couple of words describe what please in couple of words describe what please in couple of words describe what is russian military is russian military is russian military oh that's a huge question i mean but oh that's a huge question i mean but oh that's a huge question i mean but you're right i have seen a lot of you're right i have seen a lot of
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you're right i have seen a lot of experiences of the russian military in experiences of the russian military in experiences of the russian military in chechnya on many many occasions during chechnya on many many occasions during chechnya on many many occasions during both wars in georgia in 2008 both wars in georgia in 2008 both wars in georgia in 2008 in crimea in 2014 and donbass from 2014 in crimea in 2014 and donbass from 2014 in crimea in 2014 and donbass from 2014 onwards and this year three times i onwards and this year three times i onwards and this year three times i spent almost two months in ukraine spent almost two months in ukraine spent almost two months in ukraine seeing how the the the russian military seeing how the the the russian military seeing how the the the russian military operates uh you know it's this time operates uh you know it's this time operates uh you know it's this time around i must admit i was not expecting around i must admit i was not expecting around i must admit i was not expecting things to fall apart quite in the way things to fall apart quite in the way things to fall apart quite in the way they were because after vladimir putin they were because after vladimir putin they were because after vladimir putin announced a massive reform of the announced a massive reform of the announced a massive reform of the russian military which he said was russian military which he said was russian military which he said was intended to modernize it to make it you intended to modernize it to make it you intended to modernize it to make it you know like a a genuine know like a a genuine know like a a genuine modern army uh high-tech very well modern army uh high-tech very well modern army uh high-tech very well equipped well trained equipped well trained equipped well trained and you know everybody bought into that and you know everybody bought into that and you know everybody bought into that because the russians spent a massive because the russians spent a massive because the russians spent a massive amount of money you know as a proportion amount of money you know as a proportion amount of money you know as a proportion of gdp uh it was higher than uh the of gdp uh it was higher than uh the of gdp uh it was higher than uh the united states uh not in absolute terms united states uh not in absolute terms
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united states uh not in absolute terms of course was the u.s budget is so much of course was the u.s budget is so much of course was the u.s budget is so much bigger than the russian one uh but for bigger than the russian one uh but for bigger than the russian one uh but for for russia it was a massive injection of for russia it was a massive injection of for russia it was a massive injection of cash and we all thought you know when cash and we all thought you know when cash and we all thought you know when this war started on february the 24th this war started on february the 24th this war started on february the 24th and i was in kiev the day it started and i was in kiev the day it started and i was in kiev the day it started that this was i didn't know that i that this was i didn't know that i that this was i didn't know that i didn't know yeah i was there but i woke didn't know yeah i was there but i woke didn't know yeah i was there but i woke up in the morning and it had started up in the morning and it had started up in the morning and it had started uh you know we all thought that the uh you know we all thought that the uh you know we all thought that the russians were going to demonstrate these russians were going to demonstrate these russians were going to demonstrate these new skills these new capacities but it new skills these new capacities but it new skills these new capacities but it didn't happen at all it was didn't happen at all it was didn't happen at all it was again and again we're just saying the again and again we're just saying the again and again we're just saying the same old thing a very highly centralized same old thing a very highly centralized same old thing a very highly centralized army in which there was very little army in which there was very little army in which there was very little communication between the branches of communication between the branches of communication between the branches of the military so that the artillery was the military so that the artillery was the military so that the artillery was not at all operating in conjunction with not at all operating in conjunction with not at all operating in conjunction with the infantry on the ground or with the the infantry on the ground or with the the infantry on the ground or with the air force in the skies so with that lack air force in the skies so with that lack air force in the skies so with that lack of coordination uh we suddenly started of coordination uh we suddenly started of coordination uh we suddenly started to realize that things weren't going to to realize that things weren't going to to realize that things weren't going to go for the russians quite as well as go for the russians quite as well as go for the russians quite as well as they thought they were going to go and i
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they thought they were going to go and i they thought they were going to go and i remember on that when i was there remember on that when i was there remember on that when i was there talking to people from the international talking to people from the international talking to people from the international legion a couple of british soldiers and legion a couple of british soldiers and legion a couple of british soldiers and american soldier i met who had been you american soldier i met who had been you american soldier i met who had been you know on the front line fighting the know on the front line fighting the know on the front line fighting the russians with their ukrainian comrades russians with their ukrainian comrades russians with their ukrainian comrades when when the russians came in to the when when the russians came in to the when when the russians came in to the north of kiev and they were saying that north of kiev and they were saying that north of kiev and they were saying that the russian artillery was incredibly the russian artillery was incredibly the russian artillery was incredibly powerful uh you know they'd never powerful uh you know they'd never powerful uh you know they'd never experienced anything like it but the the experienced anything like it but the the experienced anything like it but the the infantry was very poor and the app the infantry was very poor and the app the infantry was very poor and the app the coordination between the branches of of coordination between the branches of of coordination between the branches of of the military was non-existent and that the military was non-existent and that the military was non-existent and that was why the russians failed in their was why the russians failed in their was why the russians failed in their attack on here because the coordination attack on here because the coordination attack on here because the coordination was so bad the ukrainian army was much was so bad the ukrainian army was much was so bad the ukrainian army was much more uh agile much more effective more uh agile much more effective more uh agile much more effective despite the fact that they went they had despite the fact that they went they had despite the fact that they went they had less weaponry less men uh they were just less weaponry less men uh they were just less weaponry less men uh they were just much more efficient about using their much more efficient about using their much more efficient about using their resources and we saw the results resources and we saw the results resources and we saw the results so that you know one thought that maybe so that you know one thought that maybe so that you know one thought that maybe after that after that
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after that experience in the area north of kiev experience in the area north of kiev experience in the area north of kiev that the russian military might go away that the russian military might go away that the russian military might go away and think well we've got to do this and think well we've got to do this and think well we've got to do this we've got to do that to improve things we've got to do that to improve things we've got to do that to improve things but they have demonstrated that they're but they have demonstrated that they're but they have demonstrated that they're not able to do that and part of the not able to do that and part of the not able to do that and part of the reason for that i i suspect is that the reason for that i i suspect is that the reason for that i i suspect is that the the chain of command like russian the chain of command like russian the chain of command like russian society is so authoritarian so society is so authoritarian so society is so authoritarian so centralized that they find it very centralized that they find it very centralized that they find it very difficult to respond in elastic sort of difficult to respond in elastic sort of difficult to respond in elastic sort of way to challenges like this you know the way to challenges like this you know the way to challenges like this you know the people from the top down to the bottom people from the top down to the bottom people from the top down to the bottom aren't used to thinking for themselves aren't used to thinking for themselves aren't used to thinking for themselves they take a command and act on it and it they take a command and act on it and it they take a command and act on it and it seems to me seems to me seems to me um you know i'm not claiming to be a um you know i'm not claiming to be a um you know i'm not claiming to be a military expert but that that military expert but that that military expert but that that to me seems to be the heart of the to me seems to be the heart of the to me seems to be the heart of the problem for the russians since then problem for the russians since then problem for the russians since then there are more issues as well yeah but there are more issues as well yeah but there are more issues as well yeah but can you say that can we make a can you say that can we make a can you say that can we make a conclusion that this problems with with conclusion that this problems with with conclusion that this problems with with the chain of command and maybe the chain of command and maybe the chain of command and maybe corruption because i've heard a lot of corruption because i've heard a lot of
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corruption because i've heard a lot of stories and you tell me whether this is stories and you tell me whether this is stories and you tell me whether this is true or maybe i'm exaggerating the true or maybe i'm exaggerating the true or maybe i'm exaggerating the problem that this is something that was problem that this is something that was problem that this is something that was uh in russian army before this war that uh in russian army before this war that uh in russian army before this war that it was something with army with russian it was something with army with russian it was something with army with russian army in times of chechnya and then in army in times of chechnya and then in army in times of chechnya and then in terms of georgia and so on and so forth terms of georgia and so on and so forth terms of georgia and so on and so forth so i mean is there a trend that we can so i mean is there a trend that we can so i mean is there a trend that we can see right now the same as it was in 90s see right now the same as it was in 90s see right now the same as it was in 90s yes i've been in a nutshell yeah that's yes i've been in a nutshell yeah that's yes i've been in a nutshell yeah that's a part of the problem you know you could a part of the problem you know you could a part of the problem you know you could obviously you know russia is has a very obviously you know russia is has a very obviously you know russia is has a very corrupt society from the top to the corrupt society from the top to the corrupt society from the top to the bottom you know every branch of bottom you know every branch of bottom you know every branch of government is is riddled with corruption government is is riddled with corruption government is is riddled with corruption now the interesting thing of course is now the interesting thing of course is now the interesting thing of course is you could say exactly the same thing you could say exactly the same thing you could say exactly the same thing about ukraine uh ukraine was perhaps not about ukraine uh ukraine was perhaps not about ukraine uh ukraine was perhaps not on the same scale but ukraine is also on the same scale but ukraine is also on the same scale but ukraine is also very corrupt except that the ukrainians very corrupt except that the ukrainians very corrupt except that the ukrainians seem to have done something quite seem to have done something quite seem to have done something quite remarkable with their armed forces in remarkable with their armed forces in remarkable with their armed forces in the years since 2014 perhaps because the years since 2014 perhaps because the years since 2014 perhaps because they've been aided by the the training they've been aided by the the training they've been aided by the the training they've had with nato countries uh in they've had with nato countries uh in
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they've had with nato countries uh in those intervening years but somehow those intervening years but somehow those intervening years but somehow they've managed to keep the the military they've managed to keep the the military they've managed to keep the the military by and large although there have been by and large although there have been by and large although there have been problems with supply and procurement you problems with supply and procurement you problems with supply and procurement you know and that sort of thing where know and that sort of thing where know and that sort of thing where corruption has has come in but by and corruption has has come in but by and corruption has has come in but by and large the ukrainian military seems to large the ukrainian military seems to large the ukrainian military seems to have been an exception uh to other have been an exception uh to other have been an exception uh to other branches of ukrainian government not the branches of ukrainian government not the branches of ukrainian government not the case in russia at all uh where for many case in russia at all uh where for many case in russia at all uh where for many people who become senior officers people who become senior officers people who become senior officers generals that is an opportunity to make generals that is an opportunity to make generals that is an opportunity to make money rather rather than to serve the uh money rather rather than to serve the uh money rather rather than to serve the uh the motherland yeah this is this is a pt the motherland yeah this is this is a pt the motherland yeah this is this is a pt i would say uh robert one more thing we i would say uh robert one more thing we i would say uh robert one more thing we can see what's going on right now with can see what's going on right now with can see what's going on right now with the mobilized men in different parts of the mobilized men in different parts of the mobilized men in different parts of russia who are still there and also what russia who are still there and also what russia who are still there and also what happens to those who are on on the front happens to those who are on on the front happens to those who are on on the front line who do not understand what's going line who do not understand what's going line who do not understand what's going on who don't have ammunition who don't on who don't have ammunition who don't on who don't have ammunition who don't have i don't know closing and so on and have i don't know closing and so on and have i don't know closing and so on and so forth and this is something again so forth and this is something again
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so forth and this is something again that makes me think about the attitude that makes me think about the attitude that makes me think about the attitude of russian of russian of russian commanders to the soldiers to the people commanders to the soldiers to the people commanders to the soldiers to the people that they're ascending to the war what that they're ascending to the war what that they're ascending to the war what have you seen in in chechnya for example have you seen in in chechnya for example have you seen in in chechnya for example i'm just referring to your experience i'm just referring to your experience i'm just referring to your experience because it's really interesting to because it's really interesting to because it's really interesting to understand whether we can you know understand whether we can you know understand whether we can you know compare what's going on right now with compare what's going on right now with compare what's going on right now with that times well you know the the that times well you know the the that times well you know the the interesting thing is uh but in chechnya interesting thing is uh but in chechnya interesting thing is uh but in chechnya there was it was largely a conscript there was it was largely a conscript there was it was largely a conscript army and just as in this war in ukraine army and just as in this war in ukraine army and just as in this war in ukraine most of the conscripts came from ethnic most of the conscripts came from ethnic most of the conscripts came from ethnic why don't minorities like why don't minorities like why don't minorities like and so on i saw more bashkiers on the and so on i saw more bashkiers on the and so on i saw more bashkiers on the front lines in in uh than i've seen front lines in in uh than i've seen front lines in in uh than i've seen anywhere else in russia uh you know the anywhere else in russia uh you know the anywhere else in russia uh you know the the poor guys were just there as canon the poor guys were just there as canon the poor guys were just there as canon fodder you know as the the russians put fodder you know as the the russians put fodder you know as the the russians put it themselves that was a you know a it themselves that was a you know a it themselves that was a you know a major phenomenon in in the particularly major phenomenon in in the particularly major phenomenon in in the particularly in the first chechen war where when the in the first chechen war where when the
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in the first chechen war where when the russians were very badly organized very russians were very badly organized very russians were very badly organized very badly trained they did they did learn as badly trained they did they did learn as badly trained they did they did learn as they went along and got better and some they went along and got better and some they went along and got better and some of the troops are much better but in the of the troops are much better but in the of the troops are much better but in the first chechen war that the quality was first chechen war that the quality was first chechen war that the quality was very bad indeed uh the soldiers were very bad indeed uh the soldiers were very bad indeed uh the soldiers were very inexperienced very young very badly very inexperienced very young very badly very inexperienced very young very badly equipped just like today but the equipped just like today but the equipped just like today but the interesting thing today is that uh in interesting thing today is that uh in interesting thing today is that uh in the first few months the first few months the first few months when the soldiers were not called were when the soldiers were not called were when the soldiers were not called were not people have been mobilized but not people have been mobilized but not people have been mobilized but professionals they didn't seem to do professionals they didn't seem to do professionals they didn't seem to do very much better so you have to ask very much better so you have to ask very much better so you have to ask yourself the question what on earth is yourself the question what on earth is yourself the question what on earth is going on you know what happened to that going on you know what happened to that going on you know what happened to that reform in the russian army they were reform in the russian army they were reform in the russian army they were meant to become model professionals and meant to become model professionals and meant to become model professionals and you know it is clear they and we have to you know it is clear they and we have to you know it is clear they and we have to say this i think that there are uh say this i think that there are uh say this i think that there are uh elements within the russian armed forces elements within the russian armed forces elements within the russian armed forces which are highly professional uh and which are highly professional uh and which are highly professional uh and very good at their jobs but the the very good at their jobs but the the very good at their jobs but the the problem is that the majority it seems problem is that the majority it seems problem is that the majority it seems are not and the commanders are not but are not and the commanders are not but
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are not and the commanders are not but to move on back to your question again to move on back to your question again to move on back to your question again clearly there is an analogy to be drawn clearly there is an analogy to be drawn clearly there is an analogy to be drawn because you're having failed in the in because you're having failed in the in because you're having failed in the in the the first part of the war with the the the first part of the war with the the the first part of the war with the profession vladimir putin has decided profession vladimir putin has decided profession vladimir putin has decided that he's got to do something to avoid that he's got to do something to avoid that he's got to do something to avoid further humiliation you know after that further humiliation you know after that further humiliation you know after that catastrophe with the uh catastrophe with the uh catastrophe with the uh counter-offensive by the ukrainians counter-offensive by the ukrainians counter-offensive by the ukrainians that something had to be done and you that something had to be done and you that something had to be done and you know i think because he was completely know i think because he was completely know i think because he was completely at a losses to know what to do he went at a losses to know what to do he went at a losses to know what to do he went for rapid mobilization mobilization for rapid mobilization mobilization for rapid mobilization mobilization which was characterized by massive which was characterized by massive which was characterized by massive inefficiency in chaos which compounded inefficiency in chaos which compounded inefficiency in chaos which compounded the existing problems you always get the existing problems you always get the existing problems you always get with immobilization the problem is now with immobilization the problem is now with immobilization the problem is now because that the troops who are being because that the troops who are being because that the troops who are being sent to the front uh have no training sent to the front uh have no training sent to the front uh have no training very little at least their equipment is very little at least their equipment is very little at least their equipment is extremely poor sometimes they've not got extremely poor sometimes they've not got extremely poor sometimes they've not got food sometimes they've got not got water food sometimes they've got not got water food sometimes they've got not got water either very little ammunition their either very little ammunition their either very little ammunition their commanders are incompetent and cowardly commanders are incompetent and cowardly
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commanders are incompetent and cowardly and they are in many cases are simply and they are in many cases are simply and they are in many cases are simply abandoned them on the front lines to be abandoned them on the front lines to be abandoned them on the front lines to be shelled by ukrainian artillery and no shelled by ukrainian artillery and no shelled by ukrainian artillery and no wonder wonder wonder we hear that hundreds of mobilized we hear that hundreds of mobilized we hear that hundreds of mobilized soldiers are being killed the hundreds soldiers are being killed the hundreds soldiers are being killed the hundreds are surrendering to the ukrainian armed are surrendering to the ukrainian armed are surrendering to the ukrainian armed forces because these people are forces because these people are forces because these people are absolutely absolutely absolutely useless as perfect you know they're not useless as perfect you know they're not useless as perfect you know they're not professional soldiers and they're up professional soldiers and they're up professional soldiers and they're up against uh an army which is showing against uh an army which is showing against uh an army which is showing itself to be very competent and itself to be very competent and itself to be very competent and increasingly well armed thanks to the increasingly well armed thanks to the increasingly well armed thanks to the weaponry that the ukrainian armed forces weaponry that the ukrainian armed forces weaponry that the ukrainian armed forces has been getting from nato the last has been getting from nato the last has been getting from nato the last thing robert i would like to ask you thing robert i would like to ask you thing robert i would like to ask you about is the you know again analogy if about is the you know again analogy if about is the you know again analogy if the analogy is possible the analogy is possible the analogy is possible about the reaction of the russian about the reaction of the russian about the reaction of the russian society on what is going on i was very society on what is going on i was very society on what is going on i was very young when russia was fighting the first young when russia was fighting the first
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young when russia was fighting the first church in warren and second church in church in warren and second church in church in warren and second church in war but i remember that the protest in war but i remember that the protest in war but i remember that the protest in in russia was huge i remember that well in russia was huge i remember that well in russia was huge i remember that well the media coverage was active and there the media coverage was active and there the media coverage was active and there were independent media outlets in russia were independent media outlets in russia were independent media outlets in russia but but still why i mean why is it so but but still why i mean why is it so but but still why i mean why is it so today that yes we can see some kind of today that yes we can see some kind of today that yes we can see some kind of you know sparkles of protest in the you know sparkles of protest in the you know sparkles of protest in the country but this is not a massive country but this is not a massive country but this is not a massive massive thing how would you explain that massive thing how would you explain that massive thing how would you explain that well not yet anyway i think it could well not yet anyway i think it could well not yet anyway i think it could become a massive thing if this goes on become a massive thing if this goes on become a massive thing if this goes on for much longer because it's essentially for much longer because it's essentially for much longer because it's essentially i think this is what there are two i think this is what there are two i think this is what there are two factors that play here i think one of factors that play here i think one of factors that play here i think one of them is information and the other one is them is information and the other one is them is information and the other one is fear uh and russia today is a very fear uh and russia today is a very fear uh and russia today is a very different place than russia in the 1990s different place than russia in the 1990s different place than russia in the 1990s in the 1990s as you correctly pointed in the 1990s as you correctly pointed in the 1990s as you correctly pointed out there were there were independent out there were there were independent out there were there were independent television stations enter there for television stations enter there for television stations enter there for instance who's had reporters actively in instance who's had reporters actively in
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instance who's had reporters actively in the field uh in chechnya reporting the field uh in chechnya reporting the field uh in chechnya reporting direct you know on air from the fields direct you know on air from the fields direct you know on air from the fields with with no attempts to filter the with with no attempts to filter the with with no attempts to filter the information you know that would that information you know that would that information you know that would that today is absolutely inconceivable as you today is absolutely inconceivable as you today is absolutely inconceivable as you know very well in the in the russian know very well in the in the russian know very well in the in the russian media environment and that that i mean media environment and that that i mean media environment and that that i mean that's one reason why there's just no that's one reason why there's just no that's one reason why there's just no information or very little you have to information or very little you have to information or very little you have to you have to work hard to get the you have to work hard to get the you have to work hard to get the information in russia today the other information in russia today the other information in russia today the other one is as i was just saying is fear this one is as i was just saying is fear this one is as i was just saying is fear this is a society which has been cowed uh by is a society which has been cowed uh by is a society which has been cowed uh by vladimir putin and his government people vladimir putin and his government people vladimir putin and his government people are terrified of being sent off to are terrified of being sent off to are terrified of being sent off to prison because they know that if they prison because they know that if they prison because they know that if they say even if they say for instance say even if they say for instance say even if they say for instance something something as blatantly obvious something something as blatantly obvious something something as blatantly obvious that this is a war that's happening in that this is a war that's happening in that this is a war that's happening in ukraine that that is an offense that ukraine that that is an offense that ukraine that that is an offense that could get you sent to prison because you could get you sent to prison because you could get you sent to prison because you know it's a special military operation know it's a special military operation know it's a special military operation as far as vladimir putin and his as far as vladimir putin and his as far as vladimir putin and his ministers are concerned so you know when ministers are concerned so you know when ministers are concerned so you know when you have that heavy load on your back you have that heavy load on your back you have that heavy load on your back you know most ordinary people you know most ordinary people you know most ordinary people are not prepared to take that risk you are not prepared to take that risk you
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are not prepared to take that risk you have to be a very brave person in those have to be a very brave person in those have to be a very brave person in those circumstances uh to to make your voice circumstances uh to to make your voice circumstances uh to to make your voice heard and be prepared to take the risk heard and be prepared to take the risk heard and be prepared to take the risk of being arrested beaten up and sent to of being arrested beaten up and sent to of being arrested beaten up and sent to prison but that that's the sort of prison but that that's the sort of prison but that that's the sort of society uh that russia is today you know society uh that russia is today you know society uh that russia is today you know it keeps people quiet but the problem it keeps people quiet but the problem it keeps people quiet but the problem for the regime is it's also a very for the regime is it's also a very for the regime is it's also a very inefficient society as we've seen with inefficient society as we've seen with inefficient society as we've seen with the performance of the russian army in the performance of the russian army in the performance of the russian army in ukraine ukraine ukraine robert thank you very much and thanks robert thank you very much and thanks robert thank you very much and thanks for your description of russian society for your description of russian society for your description of russian society i think it's it's exactly what you are i think it's it's exactly what you are
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