March 22, 2026

Weird Flex, but Ok


Weird Flex, but Ok
The new ones are pretty pricey. Or, you can get a burned-out one that's been sitting in a Ukrainian field for two years for dirt cheap. The Russian Life files

On March 19, President Vladimir Putin was quoted as saying that the "price-quality ratio" of Russian military products is a "significant competitive advantage" for the country's defense industry.

We're a little skeptical.

For one, the quality of Russian military equipment has come under intense scrutiny in the wake of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. After a promised three-day special military operation, Russian forces were rebuffed from the outskirts of the Ukrainian capital, and the conflict devolved into a slog. Russian forces, and the weapons they used, proved inadequate to force a quick capitulation. Poor-quality tech is also apparent when one considers that, during the recent American intervention in Venezuela, Russian and Chinese anti-aircraft systems failed to activate at all as U.S. helicopters and planes entered the airspace and whisked Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro away.

The money is another issue altogether. Russian defense products are cheaper, that is true; fighter jets cost only 70% of their Western counterparts, and some sources say tanks can be a third the price or even less. Yet the sheer volume of wartime production in Russia has created economic distortions that could cause a widespread collapse. And Ukrainian drone warfare has created a hard-to-counter tool to crack tanks or take out bunkers for a few hundred dollars a pop. Russia's defense industry has been scrambling to protect against drones, with some fascinating (and kind of goofy) results.

In short: You get what you pay for.

You Might Also Like

Cars for the Front
  • November 23, 2025

Cars for the Front

The Russian state reports that more than 5,000 vehicles confiscated from criminals have been sent to serve in the war in Ukraine.
Russia Readies for More War
  • July 07, 2024

Russia Readies for More War

Russian president Vladimir Putin says that the armed forces need to shore up in case of some explosive international developments.
The Not-too-Mighty Russian Armed Forces
  • July 24, 2022

The Not-too-Mighty Russian Armed Forces

It's been four months, and Ukraine is still standing. The front lines have hardly moved in ten weeks. Is this the Russian army everyone so feared?
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of our Books

Steppe
July 15, 2022

Steppe

This is the work that made Chekhov, launching his career as a writer and playwright of national and international renown. Retranslated and updated, this new bilingual edition is a super way to improve your Russian.

Bears in the Caviar
May 01, 2015

Bears in the Caviar

Bears in the Caviar is a hilarious and insightful memoir by a diplomat who was “present at the creation” of US-Soviet relations. Charles Thayer headed off to Russia in 1933, calculating that if he could just learn Russian and be on the spot when the US and USSR established relations, he could make himself indispensable and start a career in the foreign service. Remarkably, he pulled it of.

The Latchkey Murders
July 01, 2015

The Latchkey Murders

Senior Lieutenant Pavel Matyushkin is back on the case in this prequel to the popular mystery Murder at the Dacha, in which a serial killer is on the loose in Khrushchev’s Moscow...

Stargorod: A Novel in Many Voices
May 01, 2013

Stargorod: A Novel in Many Voices

Stargorod is a mid-sized provincial city that exists only in Russian metaphorical space. It has its roots in Gogol, and Ilf and Petrov, and is a place far from Moscow, but close to Russian hearts. It is a place of mystery and normality, of provincial innocence and Black Earth wisdom. Strange, inexplicable things happen in Stargorod. So do good things. And bad things. A lot like life everywhere, one might say. Only with a heavy dose of vodka, longing and mystery.

Murder at the Dacha
July 01, 2013

Murder at the Dacha

Senior Lieutenant Pavel Matyushkin has a problem. Several, actually. Not the least of them is the fact that a powerful Soviet boss has been murdered, and Matyushkin's surly commander has given him an unreasonably short time frame to close the case.

At the Circus
January 01, 2013

At the Circus

This wonderful novella by Alexander Kuprin tells the story of the wrestler Arbuzov and his battle against a renowned American wrestler. Rich in detail and characterization, At the Circus brims with excitement and life. You can smell the sawdust in the big top, see the vivid and colorful characters, sense the tension build as Arbuzov readies to face off against the American.

A Taste of Chekhov
December 24, 2022

A Taste of Chekhov

This compact volume is an introduction to the works of Chekhov the master storyteller, via nine stories spanning the last twenty years of his life.

Fish
February 01, 2010

Fish

This mesmerizing novel from one of Russia’s most important modern authors traces the life journey of a selfless Russian everywoman. In the wake of the Soviet breakup, inexorable forces drag Vera across the breadth of the Russian empire. Facing a relentless onslaught of human and social trials, she swims against the current of life, countering adversity and pain with compassion and hope, in many ways personifying Mother Russia’s torment and resilience amid the Soviet disintegration.

About Us

Russian Life is the 31-year-old publication of an award-winning publishing house that also creates books, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955