Not defending Russia, but I believe most militaries have rules on the books saying that field executions for disobeying orders are a necessary part of war.
So the big story here is that Russia is exercising those laws whereas most countries don't, but on the other hand most countries don't get involved in land wars in Eastern Europe either.....
Not defending Russia, but I believe most militaries have rules on the books saying that field executions for disobeying orders are a necessary part of war.
The last time western powers seriously used this was WW1. WW1 was quite famous and hated exactly because of the flippant use of executions of soldiers who weren't willing or able to follow horrific orders. After that you'll find a hard time to find examples. Especially after WW2. I certainly haven't heard of a single US soldier for example who was executed in the field in Iraq or Afghanistan nor any death penalty even when found guilty of serious charges against them like Abu Ghraib.
So yeah, no. Russia isn't just doing what every other military is doing as well.
In the past, maybe. In the modern world I doubt it. But from Russia I'm not surprised, they have a habit of disregarding life for quite a long time.
Not defending Russia, but I believe most militaries have rules on the books saying that field executions for disobeying orders are a necessary part of war.
So the big story here is that Russia is exercising those laws whereas most countries don't, but on the other hand most countries don't get involved in land wars in Eastern Europe either.....
The last time western powers seriously used this was WW1. WW1 was quite famous and hated exactly because of the flippant use of executions of soldiers who weren't willing or able to follow horrific orders. After that you'll find a hard time to find examples. Especially after WW2. I certainly haven't heard of a single US soldier for example who was executed in the field in Iraq or Afghanistan nor any death penalty even when found guilty of serious charges against them like Abu Ghraib.
So yeah, no. Russia isn't just doing what every other military is doing as well.
In the past, maybe. In the modern world I doubt it. But from Russia I'm not surprised, they have a habit of disregarding life for quite a long time.
The laws are still there
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_by_the_United_States_military
Desertion, willful disobedience. Both capital crimes in the military
Yes but at least you will get a trial and not just "go to die at the front or be executed right now"
Do they also get a trail during wartime?
Yes. The last person that the United States executed for desertion, Eddie Slovik in 1945, was tried in a military court, found guilty, and executed.
I assume that Russia would have rules for the same. Whether they are followed is the question.
But it's a special military operation, not war 😉