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    HomeMilitaryThe Decline of the Russian Navy: A Tale of Kleptocracy

    The Decline of the Russian Navy: A Tale of Kleptocracy

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    Years of kleptocracy under Kremlin sponsorship have eroded the capabilities of the Russian navy, rendering it a subject of international ridicule.

    This trend of kleptocracy has not only tarnished the navy’s reputation but has also had catastrophic operational consequences, highlighted by the sinking of the Moskva missile cruiser on April 14, 2022.

    The Moskva, the flagship of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, was deployed for air interdiction over southwestern Ukraine when it was unable to protect itself against Ukrainian missiles.

    Initially, the Russian Ministry of Defence attributed the loss to a fire and an ammunition explosion, but the delayed and incomplete responses to families seeking information about their loved ones serving on the Moskva painted a grim picture of the Navy’s state of affairs.

    This tragic event was not an isolated incident but rather a symptom of a pervasive problem within the Russian military establishment.

    Investigators and military analysts have scrutinized the Moskva’s ill-fated mission, with questions arising about the quality of the crew’s training and radar functionality.

    Yet, it appears the deeper issue was the endemic corruption that has infested the Russian Navy’s ranks.

    Reports preceding the disaster revealed the detention of a naval officer and two contracting executives involved in the ship’s renovation, accused of neglecting upgrades on various warships.

    The embezzlement of funds intended for missile upgrades, amounting to around 692 million RUB ($8.5 million), left much of the work unfinished. This case exemplifies the kleptocracy rampant in Russian military contracting – “A procurement order is created for a specific person, it is executed, money is paid from the budget, and then comes the kickback.” Valeriy Klochok, a political analyst and director of the Vezha Public Analytics Centre, said of the corruption in Russian military contracting.

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    Unfortunately, the Moskva is not the only victim of this deeply rooted corruption. Admiral Kuznetsov, Russia’s largest warship and only aircraft carrier, has become infamous for the misappropriation of contract money. Its repeated failures and mishaps, including catching fire and suffering from a serious crane crash, indicate a long history of financial malpractice.

    Similarly, the missile cruiser Pyotr Velikiy, the Northern Fleet’s flagship, faces an uncertain future. It, too, has been affected by corrupt practices, with a contract for its repair in 2010 awarded to a shell company with no proper permits, which grossly overcharged for non-existent work.

    Kleptocracy is considered a major threat to the Russian military, impeding all of the Kremlin’s foreign policy goals, according to analysts.

    Despite the government’s significant budget allocation, the Russian soldier’s living standards are reportedly far below those of their Israeli counterparts, highlighting the deep-seated nature of corruption that ultimately degrades the quality of life for ordinary Russians.

    Experts have pointed out that the kleptocratic system hinders technological innovation and logistics, citing instances such as Russian soldiers receiving expired rations.

    The corruption has also infiltrated the upper echelons of the Russian military, where top officials possess assets far exceeding their official income, suggesting involvement in corrupt dealings and a disincentive to provide truthful assessments that may jeopardize their access to wealth.

    Relevant articles:
    Naval decay: kleptocracy turns Russian navy into dangerous joke, Каравансарай, May 2, 2023
    Russian military’s corruption quagmire, politico.eu, Mar 8, 2022
    Countering Russia’s kleptocrats: What the West’s…, Transparency.org, Mar 4, 2022
    Stealing Russia Blind

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