Ministry of Defense distributes dubious instructions on how to survive in the Russian army to recruits
A soldier who has suffered from bullying should not break the law, show courage, hide in the territory of a military unit, but in no case take his own life. These tips are found in handouts given to conscripts around the country.
There are three such documents at our disposal: from the Moscow Military Institute of Radio Electronics of the Space Forces (Kubinka), from the 200th separate motorized rifle brigade (Pechenga) and from military unit 15689 - this is the control center for military satellites in Krasnoznamensk. Despite this rather wide geography, the advice and their literal wording are practically the same, which suggests that such reminders are received by recruits throughout the country.
The essence of the parting words consists mainly in the presentation of common truths. The first step is to remind the soldiers that "under no circumstances should the law be broken." It is also recommended “not to give a reason to humiliate or blackmail yourself” and “not to do anything that will later be ashamed of”.
If the first-year old-timers threaten with physical violence, the memo admonishes him in a fatherly way: “Do not show that you are afraid, show courage. In this way you will gain a psychological and moral victory.” Of course, you will get it in the neck, but you will win a moral victory.
In the event that “the offenders are ready to pounce on you with their fists,” the memo recommends calming yourself with the mantra: “The law is on my side. Justice will prevail . You should fight off the attackers heroically, but carefully: “… be a man to the end. But do not exceed the measures of necessary self-defense”.
The offenders will not get away with anything so easily: “Let them understand that you will have to report the incident to the commander.” There is nothing wrong with that: “When you turn to a sergeant, an officer, remember - this is not a sign of weakness, but a sign of strength. Thus, you say: "I myself can deal with the offender, but I do not want to mend lynching."
Probably, the army educators clearly imagine how a soldier can do lynching against offenders, so they conjure him: "Exclude even the thought of using weapons", and at the same time "leaving a unit, not to mention suicide in protest."
The brochure considers the following algorithm of actions as an alternative to AWOL: “At the very least, hide on the territory of the military unit and stay there until the representatives of the high command arrive at the unit to investigate your absence”. How long it will take to be buried in some shed and what to eat at the same time is not specified in the memo.
In the end, it is recommended not to become like the offenders and "re-feel your pain and resentment if you suddenly see that your colleagues offend others."
In the informational part of the memo, after the article of the Criminal Code on violation of statutory relations, there are three more articles on drugs: manufacture and circulation, theft and extortion, inducement to use. This topic, obviously, is burning, one of the brochures calls out: “Protect yourself, your friends and loved ones from the drug poison, call”, then the mobile number of one of the FSKN employees is given.
In addition to him, five or six more hotlines are indicated, sometimes even the phones of the recruit's father and mother. The last is the telephone number of the special officer of the unit, followed by the final appeal: “Warrior, know! There are no hopeless situations!”
Despite the seeming absurdity of this document, it clearly demonstrates the main ulcers that have afflicted the modern conscript army - the complete legal illiteracy of the soldiers, their infantilism, a tendency to violence, drug addiction and, of course, the complete inability of officers to cope with these misfortunes.
Fragment of the memo.
