Tomorrow will be this blog’s 365th day of existence. One hopes it’s been a good source of understanding, or at least information.
309 posts in 365 days is a pretty good average, but one wishes there had been no “no post” days at all. There’s been a conscious effort to avoid lots of cheap posts. This author thinks there’s something significant to write about every day, and there’s a backlog of great topics too. Some with great information that haven’t been written — more on YeSU TZ system testing, developments in the UAV production debate, and GLONASS. You’re owed an update on German and Italian armor for Russian combat vehicles.
A post on the Air Forces and the GPV is almost ready. This blog started last year with a post on the trouble brigade at Kamenka, and you deserve an update. The recent reported suicides of two lieutenants in the Pacific Fleet is another interesting one. How about the launching of an anti-Serdyukov movement among former officers from the Main Directorate of Combat Training. One hasn’t managed to return to the military housing story, or to the anti-reform monograph by Grinyayev and Fomin. How about this one — the ECHR has ruled Moscow must pay millions of Euros in compensation for civilian casualties in several 1999 and 2000 operations, some headed by Vladimir Shamanov. There’s a great story from the FSKN and the General Prosecutor about illegal drug use among young Russians, including in the military.
You get the picture.
Input or feedback of any kind would be welcome and helpful. The statistics say you’re out there, quietly reading.
Russian Defense Policy 
Yes, we’re out here reading quietly. This a great website for those interested in Russian defense matters and thank you for it. I for one would be interested to hear more about UAV developments.
Saw this for you today . . . High Flying Pilotless Plans . . . http://www.argumenti.ru/army/n267/86760/.
I would like to offer my thanks to you for your efforts and appreciate this BLOG as a very good source of information that often gives a lot of background on stories we often only hear the sunshine happy sides of.
I don’t always agree with your comments and conclusions but I look forward to your future posts.
I appreciate the job you have done so far and trust you to decide what to post about and what not to bother with.
If there areas I would appreciate further information on they are the topics you mention… YeSU TZ system testing, which is really not given the focus it deserves in the media… this sort of thing is vital to a modern armed force… no company would consider starting up without command, control, communications, computers, Intelligence, and recon info about what competitors are doing… why would a military force not be as well organised as a company? Also the status of foreign purchases of technology is of interest… I hear some comments of purchases of Israeli thermal imagers… are they offering technology Thales can’t provide?
Thanks again for your efforts.
I’d like to echo the others, the site really is invaluable and one of the the best English-language source of information on the Russian military out there. Keep up the good work!
You rock, buddy.
I see this site almost everyday to find anything new. I must say it makes interesting reading and one can get the panorama of Russian defense matters.
You had me at “Russian.” This blog is a “must read” for anyone interested in what’s really going on with the Russian military, not the hype that many within Russia and without would have us believe. I have flogged this blog to colleagues and interested parties within the Beltway and all over the world. Thanks for putting it out there.
Very informative, accurate and up to date. Keep going.
Any more on this? “How about the launching of an anti-Serdyukov movement among former officers from the Main Directorate of Combat Training.”
It seems, linked to the VDV incident in September, and recently Serdyukov appojnting an ‘advisor’ on veterans, to indicate a certain nervousness. It is already clear that many serving officers hate the minister, but they need to be careful about expressing this; perhaps the veterans can help.