Part 2/13:
One of the most startling revelations is that Russia is unable to consistently pay its soldiers, a problem that directly impacts its ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The Kremlin historically relied on hefty paychecks to lure impoverished Russian men into its military ranks—often in regions suffering from severe poverty. These financial incentives were critical, particularly as many recruits hailed from ethnic minority areas with limited political influence and, in some cases, limited fluency in Russian.