Extreme Poverty Makes Non-Russians Willing to Serve in Even Poorly Equipped Russian Military, ‘Free Idel-Ural’ Movement Says

Paul Goble

            Staunton, April 4 – More than 20 percent of Tyvans are unemployed, and more than 40 percent live below the poverty line. As a result, they and other non-Russians are prepared to volunteer for service in the Russian army despite the inadequate support for those who do and even the risk of death, according to the Free Idel-Ural movement.

            A few days ago, Tyvan media featured a photograph of a new unit of Tyvan volunteers for the war in Ukraine. It showed many of the new soldiers lacked boots, many of the soldiers were wearing glasses, and some who were clearly far above the prime draft age (idel-ural.org/archives/kreml-poshlet-tuvinczev-umirat-v-ukraine-v-ochkah-i-rezinovyh-botinkah/).

            That pattern may strike many as strange given that some might assume that extreme poverty and inadequate equipment might be enough to dissuade Tyvans and other non-Russians from serving; but in fact, the reverse is true. Precisely because non-Russians are doing poorly, they are willing to serve even in an inadequately equipped military.

            It isn’t surprising, the movement says, that “the needy and impoverished are prepared to become soldiers in order to have at least some employment.” But “this is a terrible situation. Still more terrible is that not a single Tyvan organization has condemned this step.” Instead, partly out of fear and partly out of understanding, they keep silent or even support their men.