SchoolTube Community
You're a young man in Russia. You've just turned 18. Instead of celebrating with friends and planning for the future, you receive a dreaded letter: a draft notice. For many Russian families, this notice brings a wave of fear and uncertainty. It's a stark reminder of the compulsory military service that awaits nearly every male citizen, and the brutal realities that come with it.
While Russia has attempted to transition to a fully volunteer military, the reality is far different. Conscription remains a cornerstone of their armed forces, and with the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the demand for new recruits has only intensified. But what does it really mean to be a conscript in the Russian army? The answer, unfortunately, is often riddled with stories of hazing, exploitation, and a system that seems to prioritize obedience over well-being.
Dedovshchina: The Rule of the Grandfathers
The term that sends chills down the spines of Russian conscripts is dedovshchina, which translates to "rule of the grandfathers." This deeply ingrained practice refers to the brutal hazing inflicted upon new recruits by their older counterparts. It's a system where physical and psychological abuse are used to assert dominance and enforce a twisted sense of hierarchy.
Imagine this: you're just weeks into your service, stripped of your individuality and issued a uniform that marks you as a dukhi – a "ghost." You're at the bottom of the food chain, vulnerable to the whims of the dedy – the "grandfathers" who rule the barracks with an iron fist.
A Catalog of Cruelty: Hazing Rituals
The hazing rituals themselves are as varied as they are cruel. Some, like the "elephant," involve depriving recruits of oxygen using old gas masks, forcing them to the brink of unconsciousness. Others, like the "batman," test physical endurance to the extreme, with recruits forced to hold themselves between bunk beds for hours on end.
And then there are the rituals that defy description, leaving lasting physical and psychological scars. The "television" involves balancing a cup of water on a stool while older soldiers yank away your own seat, a cruel game with potentially devastating consequences. The "bicycle" involves setting a sleeping recruit's feet on fire, while the "dried crocodile" forces them to hang precariously above a bayonet-fixed rifle.
These rituals aren't just about physical pain; they're about humiliation, degradation, and breaking down a recruit's spirit. They're a stark reminder of who holds the power and the consequences of disobedience.
Beyond the Physical: Exploitation and Despair
The abuse isn't limited to hazing rituals. Conscripts are often seen as little more than free labor, forced to work for local civilians with their earnings pocketed by their superiors. Theft of personal belongings is rampant, and even the meager wages they receive are often skimmed off the top.
The psychological toll of this constant abuse and exploitation is immeasurable. Suicide rates within the Russian armed forces are alarmingly high, a tragic testament to the despair that many conscripts face.
A Broken System: The Roots of Abuse
The roots of dedovshchina run deep within the Russian military. A lack of effective oversight, coupled with a culture of silence and fear of reprisal, allows these practices to flourish. Many argue that the underfunding of the military and the lack of a professional non-commissioned officer corps contribute to the problem, leaving a power vacuum that is readily filled by the dedy.
The Human Cost of Conscription
The stories of Russian conscripts are a stark reminder of the human cost of compulsory military service in a system rife with abuse. These young men, often from disadvantaged backgrounds, are thrown into a brutal environment where their well-being is seen as secondary to maintaining a culture of fear and obedience.
The international community has condemned these practices, calling for reforms within the Russian military. However, until meaningful change is implemented, the cycle of abuse and despair will likely continue, leaving countless young men scarred by their time in uniform.
You may also like