The Russians also want a second tier of units that can be brought up to readiness, if needed. American analysts say there will be resistance to downsizing. The Russian airborne, for example, has already objected to any downsizing attempt. The military has seen widespread corruption, analysts said. Part of it is caused by the way funds are allocated.
Commanders easily siphon off funds.
In one case in Chechnya in December 1995, no money passed down to feed the troops for the entire month. The legislature says it is military mismanagement, and the military says it's because the legislature didn't give them enough money. Corruption reaches high in the ministry of defense, officials said. The commander of Russian ground forces was fired for excessive payments to a helicopter plant where his wife worked. Western analysts believe the current minister, Igor Rodionov, is untouched by corruption.