Dedovshchina in the Russian Army: The Problem That Won't Go Away

Abstract

The problem of unsanctioned relations has a major impact on all Army units. –Major V. V. Savel'ev Of the many problems facing the Russian political and military leadership as it attempts to rebuild and reform the Russian armed forces, none is of greater concern than dedovshchina, or the harassment of junior recruits by more senior ones. It has undermined combat readiness, unit cohesion and led to an increase in suicides and desertions by recruits who cannot stand the kind of humiliation, beatings, rapes and even murders they face on a daily basis. In this regard, Vladimir Putin, Sergei Ivanov and the military high command are at a cross-roads. They have made some major, even fundamental structural changes in the way the Russian armed forces are organized and operate, but no change, not even the addition of desperately needed weapons, equipment, and financial resources or key personnel changes at the top will make the Russian Army into an effective military unless the Russian high command either gets rid of or minimizes the impact of dedovshchina. Such a step will not solve all of the Russian Army's problems, but it is a critical step on the way to making the Russian Army into a serious, cohesive, combat ready military.