3 ms·
Depends on the ethnic minority - the USSR had very fine-grained distinctions between "reliable" and "unreliable" ethnic groups. For example, Armenians (because
by azernik 6y ago
Depends on the ethnic minority - the USSR had very fine-grained distinctions between "reliable" and "unreliable" ethnic groups. For example, Armenians (because of their hostility to NATO-member Turkey) were very much allowed into combat units, which gave them their enormous advantage against Azerbaijan in the early-90s wars. Ukrainians and Belarusians were also considered part of the "core" USSR ethnic groups.
Whereas the Baltic states were only conquered in 1940, and were considered extremely unreliable.
- gotts 6y agoI guess Ukrainians could be named "core" USSR ethnic group but Ukrainian Insurgent Army had an ongoing war against Soviets actively during 1942–1949 and sporadically up until 1956.
- azernik 6y agoSure. But the Red Army certainly trusted most Ukrainians enough to integrate them into elite combat units.