Russian commander's shaving directive draws cutting commentary

[C0RI0LANUS]

Russia’s top military leader is apparently worried about his battlefield troops’ facial hair.



Gen. Valery Gerasimov, the chief of the general staff of the Russian armed forces, has recently come under fire after demanding increased personal discipline from soldiers, according to a message from the U.K. Defense Ministry and comments from a Russian mercenary group’s leader.

Russian senior leaders are “increasingly seen as out of touch (and) focused on presentation over substance,” according to the British defense update.

Link: https://www.stripes.com/theaters/europe/2023-01-25/russian-commander-orders-soldier-beards-shaved-8873478.html

"Hurry up, Men! We have to re-arrange the chairs on the Titanic before she sinks!"

[tanyev]

1. First of all, when you're out on the battlefield in the middle of winter, seems like shaving

would not be a top priority. A beard might, in fact, be desirable. Secondly, there are many reports that Russian soldiers aren't even getting enough food, clothing, protective gear and ammo to do their jobs. Does he think they all have access to razors and shaving cream?

Whatevs, dude. Enjoy the rest of your military career. It might be short.

[Marcuse]

3. Use water and a bayonet.

[C0RI0LANUS]

2. Maybe the Int'l Red Cross can send care and hygiene packages to the Russian soldiers.

This is a Commander woefully out of touch with his men and no situational awareness.

And a mini-Battle of Kursk may be around the corner.

[scarletlib]

4. Wow! His eyes are dead.

[CanonRay]

5. Clean shaven corpses

are so much nicer.

[Efilroft Sul]

6. Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't clean-shaven faces better for fitting gas masks?

I'm not military, but my understanding is beards get in the way.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

7. Of the few consumer products that Russia makes well

one is vacuum tubes (of the sort used in guitar and hi-fi amplifiers) and the other is good old-fashioned double-edged safety razor blades.

1950s technology, done well.

Perhaps Valery Gerasimov gets a piece of the action?