Why Nobody Wants to Join the Russian Military

In this video, we take a closer look at the current state of the Russian army and the many issues that it faces in its war against Ukraine.

From outdated equipment and lack of funding to poor training and morale, we explore the reasons behind Russia's shortcomings and what it means for Russia's military capabilities and Putin's future as Russia's leader.

With expert analysis and on-the-ground footage, this video provides a comprehensive look at the state of Russia's army and its potential impact on the world stage. Don't miss it!

*Learn more from these great books on the Ukraine War:*

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases using the links above.

*If you liked this video, you'll also like these ones:*

*Selected Sources (watch to the end of the video first for more information!):*

All footage is licensed or consistently used under Fair Use doctrine. Select footage from Storyblocks and Wikimedia Commons.

*Some of the links and other products that appear on this video are from companies which The Icarus Project will earn an affiliate commission or referral bonus. The Icarus Project is part of an affiliate network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites. The content in this video is accurate as of the posting date.

[fynfynsidian]

A friend bought a box of Russian MREs, so food meant to the soldiers at the front, was sold (graft) to someone in America. I told him it is curious way to support Ukraine by starving the enemy at the front

[SQuirellsOnNIkieZ]

"You know the situation is bad when even the missiles want to return home" is the best quote that came out of this riddiculous war yet!

[ScottWiecenski]

This is nothing new. When I was in the US Army back in the 1980s we heard that all Russian soldiers were issued brand new kevlar vests. One of the Russian soldiers cut his open to see the kevlar and there was no kevlar, The "Kevlar" turned out to be Pravda newspaper in a nylon vest shell.

[disbeafakename]

Hey, just a heads up to anyone who may need to know; do not use tampons as a replacement for bandages. Do not stick a tampon in a bullet wound. They are absorbant, and meant to pull blood OUT, not keep it in. They leave behind small particules of cotton behind, and that is an excellent bed for infection.

[spidermight]

I don’t think anyone believed Russia has a “world class” navy.

[redhood]

The "WW2" helmet shown at 2:26 was the Sfera/STSh-81, actually introduced in 1981, which is old but not 1940s old. Other evidence however has shown the Ssh-68 in use, which is a cold war development of WW2 design, especially with LNR & DNR troops.

[Verradonairun]

They're putting up one heck of a fight despite having fake equipment, no ammo and incompetent commanders.I'd hate to see what they're capable of if everything were in order.

[laernulienlaernulienlaernu]

I'm sick of all the propaganda, Russian and NATO. I just want to know the truth, the facts.

[dWFnZWVr]

On the topic of corruption in the Russian military. Due to the nation’s size, the military is split into various districts, each with its own autonomous governance of their districts’ military branches. Each district is responsible for providing and equipping their branches. Corrupt officials often pocketed large sums of money allocated by the federal government for supplying the military. What we’ve seen in Ukraine is troops pulled from poorer regions of Russia, where corruption is entirely unchecked vs somewhat. There are some Russian troops with little to no suitable equipment because of this, and on the other hand there are some who are fully kitted out in comparison. Considering most officials are just as bad as each other, money allocated by the federal government to ‘modernise and invest in the military’, has instead been spent on yachts and stocks in oil enterprises. They’re all guilty of greed in varying capacities, so no one official can take the high ground and point the finger, or there’d be no one left to govern the districts. Now the country is trying to adapt and ‘fix’ these decades-long military inadequacies due to underfunding. And that is Russia.

[tylerpace]

Actually, the Germans did suffer a lot of casualties in Poland. The tanks moved slowly with the infantry causing loss of armor. The Poles had many anti tank rifles which could penetrate the panzer 1 and 2. In France the Germans used speed of the armor at all costs. The German army learned from each conflict and improved over time.

[bedrock]

When you mentioned Russia advertising its military to the world this sticks to a quote from the art of war by sun tzu.

“Appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak.”

Putin does know how to do intimidate. Whether he acquired this by reading or experience is unknown.

[SuperPhilthyrich]

That’s incredible to hear Russian oligarchs spent more on their yachts than on the military. When I heard billion dollar yachts were being seized, I momentarily pondered where the money came from, but gez, it never occurred to me that they’d actually siphoned that money from the military budget.

[geoffreycodnett]

The aircraft carrier isn't even at sea, still being repaired after the dry Dock sank when a crane fell on it damaging the deck.

[justwatchinvideos]

Every time I think about Russia, I think back to the Chernobyl TV show a couple years ago and one of the most iconic lines that stuck with me since I heard it. When Gobachev is talking to the scientist and he says "Our power comes from the perception of our power." And this sums up Russia's military might in my opinion.

[scottsmith]

The philosophy of looking strong rather than being strong also bleeds into modernization attempts like the t-14 Armata tank which has a long list of problems but notably doesn't have much in the way of backups for the various systems because it was not designed to see combat, just to look big and strong.

[rane]

How do we know this isn't propaganda?

[eric]

I'll never forget the sweet old lady who gave the Russian solder sunflower seeds so as she told him " when you die you will contribute to something beautiful."

[JudgeLazar]

In reference to the block of wood at 0:03

That was not issued to a Russian soldier. That footage was recorded just after the Russians were forced to retreat from around Kyiv. It was a decoy to take up time and energy of EOD teams. In that same video a bomb is found inside of a rations box left in a civilian home. Many people were killed when they returned to their homes as a result of booby traps set by retreating Russian troops. Many objects were deliberately left behind that appeared to be explosive devices but were actually just decoys, as I said, to waste the time of EOD teams because they have to carefully examine objects that could be explosives before they can confirm whether they are or not.

[domestosteron]

Quick correction at 2:26

The Sfera helmet is not from WW2 but rather the 90s, it is hower the worst helmet you can get since they have no suspension. Anything that gets deflected has a serious chance of snapping the user's neck and killing them.

[huntclanhunt]

And yet... Ukraine is having a harder time finding volunteers?

Interesting.