In fact, shooting and driving away with military vehicles is the highlight of the International Army Games of Russia. However, criticism of this should now come from within the company’s own ranks. Apparently, more and more Russian military experts think tank games are wrong in wartime.
Within the Russian armed forces there appears to be criticism of the military competitions and ceremonies, which continue despite the war in Ukraine. This is what the British Ministry of Defense writes in its daily intelligence report on the situation in Ukraine.
The update states: “A significant segment of Russian military and security experts probably believe that it is inappropriate to continue dedicating forces to ceremonial military events while Russian troops are suffering heavy casualties in Ukraine.”
The British experts refer to Igor Girkin, a minister from the breakaway pro-Russian People’s Republic of Donetsk. The Russian hardliner and former FSB officer has become an increasingly outspoken critic of the Kremlin’s warfare in Ukraine since the invasion began.
According to Girkin, the main complaints were the holding of competitions such as the Tank Biathlon, a driving and shooting competition between tank crews, and festivals by military bands. On August 19, Girkin published a post in which he reluctantly expressed his admiration for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his behavior during the war. He contrasts this with the situation in Russia, where “at the end of the sixth month of the war, as before, [we] are playing tank biathlons and having festivals with military bands”. The tank biathlon is the high-profile highlight of the International Army Games of Russia, held near Moscow last week.
Since the start of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine at the end of February, the British government has regularly released intelligence information about its progress. Moscow accuses London of a targeted disinformation campaign.
