The Kremlin’s policy of sending hundreds of thousands of Russian men, including many prisoners, to war in Ukraine with little to no training or equipment has had predictable effects back on the home front: numerous soldiers have committed violent crimes upon returning home, and the country reportedly has a critical shortage of psychologists trained to treat PTSD.
The Russian authorities have been reluctant to criticize these veterans, with Putin calling for them to become the country’s “new elite.” But according to inside sources, the Putin’s team is well aware of the risks the returnees pose and fears Russian society isn’t prepared to accept them.
It’s more about those
coming back into a society and either practicing their stuff there or becoming a burden for mental health professionals or both.
The good part is that they will have lots of useful skills applicable, among other things, for changing governments, what Chechen Tiktok troops don’t have.
This war is, well, the bleeding edge of modern warfare. It might look very old and nonsensical for people watching from the West, but people with knowledge and practical command of modern tactics will come back. They don’t need tanks and artillery as much as some Mavics and grenades.
It’s going to be an interesting future, only I’d rather be far away and I likely won’t be.