Sohu: After the collapse of the USSR, Ukraine lost a huge military-industrial potential

The Chinese media decided to discuss the problems of the Ukrainian military industry. In particular, we were talking about the actual industrial degradation of Ukraine after the Soviet Union ceased to exist.

The Chinese portal Sohu notes that after the collapse of the USSR in Russia and Ukraine, volumes of the military and space industries comparable in scale remained. However, since the beginning of the 1990s, Ukraine has gradually lost the industrial facilities of the defense complex, and this process has only worsened in recent years.

From an article in the military section of the mentioned resource:

In recent years, the military industry of Ukraine has faced a very serious crisis - the brain drain crisis. On the one hand, this is due to a poor internal regime. Even for the most talented representatives of the industry, salaries remain low, not allowing specialists to lead a relatively prosperous life.

It is noted that many Ukrainian citizens are characterized by a salary of around $ 200 (12-13 thousand rubles), while specialists in the military-industrial complex receive about 3000 yuan (about 27 thousand rubles).

From Sohu Material:

Today, the attitude to the research and production branches of a military nature in Ukraine is still very poor. Talents in these industries from Ukraine left for other countries to find work there and arrange their lives.

The author of the article notes that the country, which had huge military-industrial potential, practically lost all of it and today faces a shortage of its own personnel, being forced to offer cooperation to foreign companies at international military-technical exhibitions and salons.

From the material:

Not so long ago, Chinese companies entered the process of buying shares in Motor Sich. Tianjiao Airlines has proposed building houses with luxury apartments in a neighborhood near the plant so that professionals can live in them and ultimately contribute to the Chinese aviation industry.

Comments

[Thrifty]

Trump will lie with his bones — Zelensky and Shakalomoysky — so that I don’t get a motor-owl! The United States will find a way to disrupt or block this deal! And about the degradation of the Ukrainian economy, the more liberals there are in the country, the closer they are to power, the higher the chance of a state collapse! I hope that the Chinese have the strength and resources not to repeat our mistakes and u-Kroins, not to plunder and sell off enterprises, especially the defense industry!

[Thrall]

Chinese liberal? What kind of beast is this?

[Thrifty]

Thrall - firstly, happy new year, and secondly, there are liberals even among penguins, and in China there are more of them than in our country at times! !!

[Russobel]

And in China there are more inhabitants at times!

[Tersky]

Quote: Thrall

Chinese liberal? What kind of beast is this?

"Liberalism in modern China" V. A. Abbakumov and O. A. Simonenko to help you, by the way fresh, 2017

[Aviator_]

They were flattened on Tiananmen Square, now, it seems, the new shoot has ripened, in Hong Kong it is heading. Waiting for the harvest.

[Finches]

All the republics of the USSR have lost! And not only the military-industrial potential - they lost their unique identification of the Great People of the manufacturer, turning into markets for cheap labor and sales markets for Chinese consumer goods. Russia was more fortunate, it added to these markets a total sale of hydrocarbons, the proceeds from which, a little bit goes to the image the stormy activity of total capitalist prosperity and the return of its former power! But, to be honest, you will open the most super secret military unit, in the control panel of the Borey or the Yars missile, and you will be unpleasantly surprised that the inscription "Made-in-China" appears on the microcircuits and internals everywhere. It’s just that Ukraine, by virtue of its mentality, acted on a large scale according to the principle - We live once and after us, even a flood!

[Nikolay Ivanov_5]

It will become especially clear when you pay attention to electronic components (radio components), various connectors (plugs, sockets, sockets, plugs, clamps), control and switching components (switches, switches, starters and relays).

[tihonmarine]

Quote: Finches

Simply, by virtue of its mentality, Ukraine acted on a grand scale on the principle - Once we live after us, even the flood!

Here you can only agree.

[Svarog]

Quote: Finches

Simply, by virtue of its mentality, Ukraine acted on a grand scale on the principle of

I think that in Ukraine the situation is worse than in Russia, only for the reason that they do not have oil and gas .. but if we assume that oil and gas would be ..
In this regard, the West has achieved almost everything that it wanted .. Ukraine, Belarus are torn off from Russia, almost all ties are torn off with Ukraine .. and now they continue to form hatred of Russians among Ukrainians .. I think that the ultimate goal of the West is war, by the hands of Ukrainians, Poles, Balts, against Russia. But this is only if Russia ceases to share its resources .. From here, by the way, we can draw conclusions about the success of foreign policy. Personally, I would consider it a huge success if Belarus and Ukraine were part of Russia, or, truly, allied states.

[Incvizitor]

but if we assume that oil and gas would be ..

then it would be the same, only oil with pindo gas. we would squeeze.

[Machito]

Hey. Happy New Year! I agree with your post

[Svarog]

Quote: Bearded

Hey. Happy New Year! I agree with your post

Greetings, Happy New Year!

[rezerv66]

The ultimate goal of the West is war, by the hands of Ukrainians ..... against Russia.

100%.

[alexmach]

Very clearly noticed. Ukraine just ran along this path faster and went further, but the situation in Ukraine and Russia is basically no different.

[Andrei from Chelyabinsk]

Quote: Finches

But, to be honest, you will open the most super secret military unit, in the control panel of the Borey or the Yars missile, and you will be unpleasantly surprised that the inscription "Made-in-China" appears on the microcircuits and internals everywhere.

Are you sure? :)))))) as far as I know, such products are fully localized in the Russian Federation

[Finches]

You know one thing, I know another - but there will be no proof! However, this is Openel's secret: "According to the data of Concern Radioelectronic Technologies JSC (KRET), it will take two to five years to replace more than 3,5 thousand elements of imported electronic components, but about 7-8% of them are irreproducible. " Analysis for 2018.

[Andrey VOV]

Did you open these blocks or collect them?

[Finches]

Are you sorry for the power? It’s the same for me ... The only thing I can write in this area has been the improvement in the last 5–7 years, not only with electronic content, but also with software! But despite all the efforts and billions of dollars of financial injections, the defense industry cannot yet boast of getting rid of its dependence on the foreign electronic component of the base. This is especially true of communications and control systems issued under the rearmament program in 2008 - 2014!

[Andrey VOV]

Dear Eugene, yes, it's a shame, and I ask you not to be like our warriors, when a simple question requiring an answer "yes" or "no", and in response to at least 5 minutes speech))))

[Finches]

This is professional - I was at a university, military institute, taught until recently, even led the department, it’s short I opened it. True, Voentelecom and the kids who have their professional holiday on December 19 are very sensitive to unauthorized opening of products!

[Andrey VOV]

and I thought from the political leaders

[Finches]

No, he held exclusively command posts.

[Andrey VOV]

Although the political leaders were also different, with the coming

[Finches]

Happy New Year! You correctly noted that a sensible political officer is a huge help in the work of the commander!

[businessv]

Quote: Thrifty

I hope that the Chinese have the strength and resources not to repeat our mistakes and u-kroins

They have created an institute to study the problems of the collapse of states, so they certainly will not allow this.

[Kazbek]

What bones should anyone lie with? The deal took place, the plant was sold. To the Chinese. Good morning.

[nekromonger]

and not a liberal is it your Putinist?

[maidan.izrailovich]

The lion's share of Ukrainian heavy engineering, and industry in general, was concentrated in regions with a Russian and Russian-speaking population. Having abandoned all Russian, Ukraine has lost everything that was created during the Soviet era.

[Pessimist22]

Until 1922, these southeastern regions belonged to the RSFSR, but as I read, Ukraine was transferred to unite and increase the proletariat.

[tihonmarine]

Quote: Pessimist22

to unite and increase the proletariat were transferred to Ukraine.

And even imagine how much more expensive it was to build enterprises beyond the Urals, and resources were concentrated at that time not in the European Union territory. But it turned out the opposite.

[alexmach]

The lion's share of Ukrainian heavy engineering, and industry in general

Heavy engineering - yes, in general industry - no.

[nikon7717]

Tyazh.Mash is machines for the production of the rest of the industry. Huge shaft for a power plant turbine, where do we do it? Rolling mills for 6m sheet where to get?
But for Motorsich, China seems to have made a very high bid. The ultimate goal is a new production of an engine for a helicopter, to occupy a market share to squeeze the USA, RF, EU. In short, it is beneficial for everyone that the deal does not go through, otherwise China will be freebie again, as it will gain the experience of the USSR with aircraft carriers. I hope our experts work there.

[alexmach]

In short, it is beneficial for everyone that the transaction does not go through

It is beneficial to everyone, but what really can be done then? Bolton had come and persuaded several times, and hadn’t persuaded something ...

[nikon7717]

There is, of course, option number 3. Selling a "dead cat". Only this is a great art. Before the transaction, all key specialists will need to be removed from the group, all key documents should be excluded from the development archives, all documentation for products, technical cards should be liquidated. In fact, stop production.

[alexmach]

Attention is the question, who will do it and why?
- Owner? so then the Chinese will bring him a claim. Up to rolling into concrete.
- Ukraine? Well, Ukraine and their authorities are interested in the enterprise continuing to work, at least in some quality. In this sense, they are interested in working with the Chinese. Because it is obvious that all the rest of the production is simply buried, but these may not be buried immediately.

[Kazbek]

The deal has passed. You at least read local news ...

Recall that the day before from Kiev came confirmation of the fact that more than 50% of Motor Sich shares were sold to Chinese companies (such a statement was made by the head of Ukroboronprom Aivaras Abromavicius).

https://topwar.ru/165854-v-kitae-pojasnjajut-pochemu-kupit-motor-sich-nedostatochno-dlja-sozdanija-novejshih-aviadvigatelej.html

[New Year day]

Not only did they poher the production, but they also sold the entire Soviet legacy:
5500 tanks (T-64, T-72, t-55, T-80), more than 4000 infantry fighting vehicles and armored personnel carriers, a huge number of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) and artillery, including Smerch MLRS (95 units), 1100 combat aircraft, represented by the most modern at that time bombers, fighters and transporters of the USSR and other military equipment of the USSR.
According to the London Institute for Strategic Studies, - in the amount of $ 89,4 billion. According to experts, this money would be more than enough not only to reform the army, but also to raise the economy of the entire state.
But do not feed the horse!

[tihonmarine]

Quote: Silvestr

But do not feed the horse!

And into the pockets of the newly-minted capitalists. And now, around the world, a million is collected in a hat.

[Incvizitor]

It’s not enough to kill them.

[Andrey VOV]

It is for this not them, but a labeled Judas ... still alive and still trying to teach how to live

[23424636]

the Chinese, with their multi-million dollar human potential, are all looking for how to steal from impoverished Ukraine. All of Kiev is penetrated by their network of intelligence services. The retailers in the center mainly work under the cover of the Chinese. Russia doesn’t seem to care. But the Americans are very excited. The fact that Smolenskaya Square doesn’t give a damn about Ukraine in terms of the potential of old developments can be judged on the fate of the Motor Sich branch in the city of Snezhnoye (D N R), where some left-handed guys are bankrupt for the second time this enterprise that made titanium products for the main products in Zaporizhia. who sent there by air in good times .....

[Mordvin 3]

Quote: 23424636

the Chinese, with their multi-million dollar human potential, are all looking for how to steal from impoverished Ukraine. All of Kiev is penetrated by their network of intelligence services. The retailers in the center mainly work under the cover of the Chinese.

Do you think we have better?
All Chinese citizens are required by law to cooperate with intelligence.

[Vladimir Fedin]

Ukraine has lost not only its military-industrial potential, but in general its entire industrial potential. This is a trend. The more a country focuses on European integration, the less industry it has. A vivid example is the Baltic countries.

[Nikolay Ivanov_5]

The way it is. The core of the EU countries will not make the mistakes of the USSR and develop the industrial potential of the border territories.

[tihonmarine]

Quote: Nikolay Ivanov_5

The core of the EU countries will not make the mistakes of the USSR and develop the industrial potential of the border territories.

It makes no sense for Europe to develop industry, even in the Baltic States. Far, expensive, no raw materials. And who needs an extra competitor.

[Egoza]

Quote: Vladimir Fedin

Ukraine has lost not only its military-industrial potential, but in general its entire industrial potential.

Sha! Nobody lost anything! Just a few "smart" have successfully sold everything. And who did not understand or did not notice, i.e. people, well, who will give them indignation? Let them say thank you for the fact that the new owners make it possible to earn at least something.

[Kibl]

When a Ukrainian was born, a Jew burst into tears. But seriously, having seized upon the bins of the USSR, such zher began that until everything was gobbled up and plundered, they couldn’t stop in almost the whole post-Soviet space. Well, and of course, Ukrainian lads and deeds are the leaders of this movement. Scho Ukraine did not die, but it died, it died !!!

[tihonmarine]

Quote: KIBL

But seriously, getting to the bins of the USSR began such zher

In the West, everything was going on slowly, evenly, and ours all at one moment lay down at our feet, like jackals clutching, not to drag. And all is not enough, let’s do more.

[beeper]

In fact, "Ukrainian (mostly not even Ukrainians, but Galicians) lads and girls" are on hand, in a servile way, as usual, farmers "not slaves" serve their small-town "masters", opportunistically "Ukrainian" klepto "w / Bandera "(they also came up with the" consolation "of the stolen ukrobydlu, cited by you, comrade KIBL, so flattering in words, but practically, in fact, a false" compliment "in the skill of thieves' machinations -" a Jew cried ", mb, only from such a gross trampling on the elementary "aesthetics of theft" - when "a chicken bites a grain by the grain ...", from the kind of primitive - completely "artless", Ragulian redneck - "that I can't eat, steal, so at least I'll bite and spoil ..." ", because in any business there should be" beauty "and" creative streak ", even in theft on an especially large scale, and the ragul who has seized upon someone else's good has no sense of measure, even, which restrained the deadly destructive floods in Zapukriya, sirens on the Carpathian slopes, "having shot himself in the foot", stupidly chopped up and sold and for pennies!)!

It has been customary since the days of "ukroprezik" Kuchman - he even admitted in his memoirs that he "distributed" the most profitable and large pieces of the "privatized" public property "at a symbolic price of one hryvnia" among "his own", among his relatives and the most trusted local grabbers , in a thief's way "justifying" this "own" hypo-robbery of compatriots in order to secure "Ukrainian society" from a return to socialism!

Given in the Article, the Ukrainian "average salaries" as much as $ 200 are like "the average temperature of hospital patients (including the deceased in the morgue)" - this is only in Kiev and big cities, at large factories, it might be "paid", and so - usually less wages for workers, not so big - Chinese sources openly cheat, as they do not mention galloping unemployment in destructively degrading, under the Banderonazi yoke, and rapidly deindustrializing allegedly "future great agrarian power"!

In addition, by no means at all Ukrainian factories and "firms" wages are paid on time - the majority of Ukrainian workers "peresichnyh (" ordinary citizens ")" are "given it up (" so they don't die! ")" By irregular small "handouts"! The smaller the "little firm", the usually more violations with this, the more ugly the total wage arrears and the more disenfranchised workers - "whoever doesn't like it, we don't keep that, go away!" .... this is the real "Ukrainian life", in ruin and "progressing" poverty, with paid deadly "health care", "social security" and "boundless" crime, which the "Ukrainian" parasites-klepto "w / banderopithecs", under the "disgusting" barking of the dogs from the chain of Ragul, call to "puff ( be proud) "!

I, as a (u, oh) Krajina Russian and a specialist engineer, is completely out of my hand to help forge weapons to an openly Russophobic Banderonazi amerocolonial "regime" that openly hates (u, oh) the Krajina Russian population and is killing and killing my Russians and Russian-speaking fellow citizens, my family and friends in Donbass! I am shameful and unbearable for the very thought that the unconstitutional "military fee" imposed on my salary is going straight to the potala "to the bloodthirsty appetites of the" Maidan authorities "!

So, "burn it with a garom!" - this "huge military-industrial potential", which, having seized the "helm of power", stupid farmer Banderonats with cunning shtetl klepto "w / Bandera" themselves mercantilely destroyed - let the dog under the tail ( and rightly so !!!) for "nezalezhnisti rocky"!
By the time of the natural "outcome" of the decades-old anti-national and anti-state "rozbudov" of the Washington Russophobic-anti-Russian "Ukraine project" - the unleashing of the Ameroholuy Galician Banderonazis and the former "klepto" bloody-Bandera civil war against them everything happened according to the popular saying "God did not give horns to a vigorous cow (and thank God !!!)!"

[Prjanik]

I agree, while the Ukrainian-Bandera industry is working to kill the Russians - a happy agrarian future for them.

[midshipman]

There were 6 enterprises subordinate to 19 GU MRP of the USSR (I was in charge of this GU); Ukraine had 90 enterprises. More than XNUMX thousand specialists worked there. What they cost: "Radioimeter" (Kiev, rocket heads, microelectronics), PO named after Lenin (Lvov, SAM). Nothing left. Everything was created in vain.

[HAM]

Yuri Grigoryevich, do not be upset.
You, all this was created for the defense of the USSR country and the task was fulfilled with honor ...
And as for the enterprises, no matter how blasphemous it may sound, let them fall apart completely better than Bandera will make weapons ....

[tihonmarine]

Quote: midshipman

Nothing left. All wasted.

And in Mukachevo, wasn’t your factory?

[Earth]

Quote: midshipman

What they cost: "Radioimeter" (Kiev, rocket heads, microelectronics), PO named after Lenin (Lvov, SAM). Nothing left. Everything was created in vain.

2019
The enterprise "Radioizmeritel" exported products to the Russian Federation and other countries in the amount of 43,7 million hryvnia
"Radioizmeritel" is a strategic enterprise for the country's economy, because it produces navigation and landing equipment for aircraft construction not only in Ukraine or the CIS, but also in the EU, "StateWatch added.
2019
Lviv State Plant "LORTA (formerly Lenin) is still working; it produces products and modernizes
the latest news from KAU Obolon-A for artillery.
You emphasize in each news that you have created and there is nothing left. Check at least.
Internet is available.

[Karen]

Yuri Grigoryevich, enlighten, pzhst ... Next to Lvov in n.p. Chervonograd was an enterprise for the production of connectors, with prices like diamonds ... Was it from your diocese or from the IEP?

[midshipman]

Yes, it was our factory "Radio Equipment". The director was Pyotr Punko. The plant had a call sign "Zubr"

[Karen]

My sidekick told me: he asked me to put a symbolic price on the box on the box, and not a couple hundred thousand rubles documented on the invoice - so that thieves would not get too excited at the airport ... :)

[Scud]

And what can you tell about Zaporizhzhya factories?

[rocket757]

At that difficult moment EVERYTHING and MUCH LOST .... the question is, what and where is still happening!
Although it has become better, have countries become stronger since that tragic moment?

[knn54]

The leadership of the military-industrial complex has neither experience nor competence, but it does have accounts abroad. To grab and "slip away", the queue is too long.
"We don't need the smart ones. We need the faithful." "Where grayness prevails, blacks always come to power."
These are quotes from brothers Strugatskikh ("It's hard to be a god"). explain, if not all, then a lot.

[Positiv]

When I look at these photos and others .. My heart bleeds!
Why are you so hoh s .. Because the whole Union built ?????

Answer ALL for it!

[Earth]

Quote: Pozitiv

When I look at these photos and others .. My heart bleeds!
Why are you so hoh s .. Did you build the whole Union ??

as far as I remember, there was no money for maintenance at all.
There is no oil gas. There was nothing to sell. And the content of such a technique is expensive.
Offered the Russian Federation. They refused. They themselves were not rich at that time.
The United States gave the money exclusively for cutting.
It is hypothetically difficult to imagine if it would have been preserved by some miracle.
A lot would change. All nuclear weapons went to them (they were handed over to the Russian Federation) and these bombers. (Part of the Russian Federation part was cut)
And yes, sorry for them. New. They would fly. Wait, they would find work too.

[Positiv]

Quote: Earth

Quote: Pozitiv

When I look at these photos and others .. My heart bleeds!
Why are you so hoh s .. Did you build the whole Union ??

as far as I remember, there was no money for maintenance at all.
There is no oil gas. There was nothing to sell. And the content of such a technique is expensive.
Offered the Russian Federation. They refused. They themselves were not rich at that time.
The United States gave the money exclusively for cutting.
It is hypothetically difficult to imagine if it would have been preserved by some miracle.
A lot would change. All nuclear weapons went to them (they were handed over to the Russian Federation) and these bombers. (Part of the Russian Federation part was cut)
And yes, sorry for them. New. They would fly. Wait, they would find work too.

Well, then soberly you reason ..
It was a dashing time, we still cannot manage it ..

[Finn]

How many swans did Russia offer? According to the text for free .... so I believed.

[Karen]

If sclerosis does not fail me, they wanted 2 billion dollars for everything.
RF, if I remember correctly, unfastened 1bn.

[DPN]

And it’s very good for us.

[Terenin]

... huge military-industrial potential, in fact, all of it has lost

What are we all straining for? They then consider it to be overwhelming! All successfully sold out

[Yang yangov]

Quote: Thrifty

and in China there are more than in our country at times! !!

Well, if in China the population is 10 times larger than ours .. then there are also more liberals than ours)

[karabass]

And why this word LIBERAL was given to you - you hustle it wherever you can in order to scold. As soon as the word Negro becomes taboo

[cat Rusich]

It is not enough to have a military-industrial complex on the scale of the USSR — the country's leadership needs to link its future and prosperity with its homeland.

[Svetlana]

There is absolutely nothing new for us in this article.

[D-ug]

After the collapse of the USSR, Ukraine lost a huge military-industrial potential

Again Soviet fairy tales. The USSR did not have any potential, except for raw materials. And tales about the "powerful Soviet military-industrial complex" are just tales for suckers.

[Thunderbolt]

Second place in sales of weapons --- that's not a fairy tale. Without a powerful defense industry, such a result is not achievable. And this still needs to be taken into account the loss of share in our markets stably. China has replaced much of what our military-industrial complex could offer him, and the United States and France will enter India.

[D-ug]

Quote: Thunderbolt

Second place in sales of weapons --- that's not a fairy tale.

"Selling" and "shipping to the consumer" are two different things. The shipment can be barter, in exchange for bananas or palm oil. Or maybe on credit, which will never be paid and will then be written off (such "sales" were very widely practiced by the USSR).
In addition, the second place (excluding the form of shipment) was in 2017 - 9,7% percent of world trade. In 2018, this is already the third place and 9,5% of the global volume.

Quote: Thunderbolt

China has replaced much of what our military-industrial complex could offer him, and the United States and France will enter India.

So they have something to offer better and cheaper.

[Andrey VOV]

Went away from here, specially registered yesterday to scribble here? But you bastard, like everyone like you, scribble all under one carbon copy ... Admins, filter such casserole-heads!

[askort154]

There were two competing world military-industrial complexes - the USSR and the USA.
USSR, was a leader in the production and availability of all types of weapons among all republics. And this is understandable, it was the western frontier of the USSR. Before the Germans attacked, most of them managed to urgently be evacuated to the Urals, and to the east. After the Victory
much was returned to Ukraine, which again became the "smithy" of the military-industrial complex of the USSR. After the collapse of the "Warsaw Pact", most of the weapons from the "West" were withdrawn to the territory of the Ukrainian SSR. After the collapse of the USSR, Ukraine ranked third in the world in terms of the number of aircraft (after the United States and Russia). For 30 years, most of all stocks of weapons have been sold, the remainder was used for "disassembly" for spare parts, as well as for conservation with subsequent disposal. I personally came across what volumes of weapons were exported from Ukraine to Africa and "hot spots". Russia then, in the 90s, also "delivered" quite a lot (for which Bout was accused).
About the current state of the military-industrial complex of Ukraine, "sincere surprise" speaks eloquently, Zelenskiy - "what, only one tank has been released in 10 years?"
Since Ukraine has been living for 30 years at the expense of selling off its past acquired without building anything - this pseudo-state has no future, and cannot be.

[Avior]

. It is noted that many Ukrainian citizens are characterized by a salary in the region of $ 200 (12-13 thousand rubles)

That's right.
This is the minimum salary in Ukraine. Like in Russia, by the way.
And in China, what about this?

[Tomich3]

What "fresh" news))

[Strashila]

Sohu: After the collapse of the USSR, Ukraine lost a huge military-industrial potential

- She did not lose him, but under the strict guidance of curators from the State Department, she destroyed it.

[Maalkavianin]

To save money on the next article, Sokh just needs to attach a link to this article and sign "It's the same in Russia" below.

[sgr291158]

Worthless country. With the union, yes, they did something else and now everything went under the hammer. Yes, and let them live as they want.

[Pariv]

Russia had gone through a lot and the fact they still remain the one country the US fears is a tremendous achievement and a testimony to sound leadership, ingenuity of the populace, high quality education from base up and the sense of patriotism pervading the secti9n of the population that matters.

I don't think there is another country on earth that would recover and still remain strong the way Russia has done in face of so much powerful headwinds. This is the reason your country leadership is admired and respected all over the world. I think the war on terrorism afforded a window that allowed Russia to redevelop. Without that window, not sure if Russia would not have been broken up. Russia enjoys the goodwill of many "weak nations" too afraid to stand up. Not necessarily that they are against US but against being forced to what they don't want especially when these are against the interest of their people. The world needs a strong Russia to keep the world free and on an even keel.

[Foxnova]

Sohu: After the collapse of the USSR, Ukraine lost a huge military-industrial potential

And the water is wet
And the snow is cold