Magic Shows and Sad Realities: A Look into Volgograd's Patriotic Processions
Volgograd, a city steeped in history and culture, is best known for its World War II heroics and its iconic statue of a woman embracing a soldier. However, beneath its grand historical backdrop lies a series of events that reflect the peculiar reality of modern Russia. Specifically, the frequent patriotic processions held in the city are a subject of both fascination and concern.
What's Happening in Volgograd?
Instead of the vibrant carnival-style magic shows one might expect, Volgograd hosts processions where men dress in peculiar attire, often in red, holding sticks or walking with unusual faces painted on their faces. These processions are led by police to ensure the public does not join. Such events are a common sight in the city, held almost every month. While these events are described as very patriotic, the reality is often more somber than festive.
The Patriotic Show and Its Goals
The current leadership in Russia has a unique approach to maintaining national faith and optimism. The government views these elaborate processions as a collective prayer, meant to inspire national unity and readiness to support the military operations in Ukraine. However, these processions are more a display of loyalty than tangible military victories.
Given the current geopolitical climate, Russia lacks the resources to produce tanks or rockets due to both sanctions and a shortage of skilled labor. The government resorts to these symbolic displays, hoping they will have a magical effect on public morale. These processions are a reminder of a bygone era, funded from the budget and designed to keep citizens in a state of patriotic fervor.
The_extraction_of_Patriotic_Salaries
The patriotic processions also serve as a means to extract salaries from the state coffers. In the case of volunteers from the Volgograd region participating in what is euphemistically referred to as the "Special Ukrainian operation," the situation is far from ideal. These volunteers were initially promised a salary of 200,000 rubles per month, but this promise was not kept. Instead, they received a much lower salary of 15,000 rubles per month for the first five months.
Their salaries were recalculated, and they eventually received around 72,000 rubles per month, a fraction of the promised amount. The volunteers were also bound to their contracts without the option to resign, even when their initial terms ended. These conditions reflect the use of citizens as disposable resources, a policy indicative of the broader issues in Russian society.
The System of Corruption
The system of corruption in Russia thrives on such situations. Even the highest-ranking officials, such as the generals, benefit from the tragic state of affairs. The deaths of soldiers open up various avenues for financial gain, including payouts for injuries and losses. This system is so well-oiled that even generals can see opportunities in disasters, a stark contrast to the public narrative of Ukraine's failures.
These events highlight the deeper issues in Russian society, from the lack of geopolitical success to the exploitation of citizens for the benefit of the ruling elite. The processions in Volgograd, while seemingly magical to the outside, are a bitter reflection of the reality facing the people of Russia.
Conclusion
The frequent patriotic processions in Volgograd are a complex and somewhat tragic phenomenon in Russia. They serve as a reminder of the disconnect between the government's aspirations and the realities on the ground. These events, far from creating a magical effect, are a symbol of the broader issues of poverty, exploitation, and corruption that plague the country. As the world watches the developments in Ukraine, it's essential to remember the human cost behind such events.