Over the past three years, at least 60,000 officers under the age of 30 have voluntarily left the Russian Armed Forces. In fact, we lost several selected officer divisions... Ending. Start at N 2 Victims of departmental abuse Russia at the end of the millennium is probably weaker than ever. But outwardly the country resembles a besieged camp. And how to perceive otherwise, if in the center of the capital patrols are walking around with submachine guns under their arms and famously shifted berets? It's not very valiant to chase down shopkeepers and old ladies. Everywhere you look, there are people in spotted uniforms. OMON, police, customs officers, security guards of everything and everything... Today, the statistics are as follows: only one - third of those put under arms report to the Ministry of Defense, the remaining two-thirds-to other law enforcement agencies. Our young people serve in more than twenty independent organizations. Moreover, the parents of conscripts try to attach the boys anywhere, but not in the barracks army, where the regiments drag out a miserable existence and frighten the people with the sight of half-starved soldiers. Well-fed security guards look much more respectable. When did the destruction of the Armed Forces begin? Who contributed the most to this? These are not easy questions. I remember the enthusiasm that prevailed in the fall of 1991 in connection with the unofficially announced recruitment to the Russian National Guard. The temporary headquarters was located in one of the alleys leading to Red Square. There was no sign, but the address was unmistakable from the crowd of young men in and out of uniform. Crammed into cramped rooms, lieutenants, captains, and majors, reserve and active, filled out questionnaires. What prompted them to enlist in the new Guard? The responses were surprisingly unanimous, with people starved for combat. I also thought: how many young officers are fed up with the routine way in which there are ra ... Read more