Russian War Profiteering in Russia-Ukraine War -- HT DMR

[blaketx]

I saw this on Telegram. A lot of this war has been supplied by just buying some munitions "off the shelf." Some of these price markups with cosmetic changes are beginning to put these radios into Pentagon Hammer and Toilet Seat territory.

This is a TVT-UV390 plus. 7,666 rubles is about US $93.29, which is very close to what Amazon has it listed for now. Not bad for its strong encryption and rugged mil spec rating.

Translated from Russian via Telegram:

So, here's a piece of news that you may have missed. Right now, everyone is actively discussing it. Let's look at the screenshots that Two Majors are sharing . Don't you notice anything?

There is actually only one radio, but the price for the sticker and the menu in Russian has increased threefold. It is clear who buys these radios. We can't go anywhere without communication on the front lines.

For three years, the situation with communications on the front line has remained as deplorable as ever. The same "Baofeng" is still the main communications tool for many units. At the same time, someone decided that they could make a good profit on the needs of the front - they buy from China in bulk, stick stickers on them, add a Russian menu and sell them at exorbitant prices. And all this, when we have one and a half radios per group?

 

[GlobalNorth]

How is this "profiteering"?

The Russian MoD buys equipment from approved vendors that are 'FoV' [friends of Vlad]. FoV have to pay kickbacks to Vlad for his patronage and political support to remain in the loop. Vlad controls the government and for all practical purposes, IS, the government. Taxes are extracted from citizens and businesses in Russia in order to pay for these items.

No one in Russia other than those at the highest levels makes significant profits and can control what the MoD pays for items, whether it is rations, rifles, or radios.

 

[KevinC]

This will end up going no where, closing before it does.