Theft was even worse in Russian-occupied Ukraine. "People who saw it also told me how in Izyum, those who always stayed in the rear jumped like jackals at crates with aid from some Russian regions. This aid was also meant for the frontlines."
Full-scale invasion and national resilience, broadcasted live.
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Russian conscript stole canned meat from supplies in Ukraine
30/ Theft of supplies was something that Shyaga experienced back home in Russia, where "every man and his dog" was stealing: "conscripts who were delivering [food] to our unit in Ukraine stole from it three crates of canned meat and sold it in our unit for 70 rubles each."
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Roshen candy meant for frontlines diverted at headquarters
31/ "I also personally saw how in the regiment’s headquarters, a woman who worked there was eating 'Roshen' candy from a big crate. As far as I understand that was meant to go straight to the frontlines, but it never did."
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Driver shortage due to high death risk and enlistment promises
26/ He did it because no one wanted to be a driver since they were very often killed. Also, speaking to guys from other regions of Russia I found that many were told in the enlistment offices that they would not be serving on the frontlines …
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Russians strike Mykolaiv with Tornado rockets
The Russians shelled Mykolaiv at night with Tornado 300 mm multiple rocket launchers. One resident was killed and six were injured, according to the head of Mykolaiv Oblast. https://t.me/mykolaivskaODA/1950
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Russian army neglecting medical exams for volunteer contractors
23/ Shyaga's account suggests that the Russian army's desperation for manpower is such that basic health checks are being neglected. "Those volunteer contractors who came after us, many of them (if not all) did not even pass the medical examination."
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Exhausted recruits: widespread health issues
"He was very exhausted from marching and running around with a machine gun, an assault rifle, and an armored vest, and his heart started aching." Again, this aligns with previous reports of widespread health problems among new recruits.
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Shyaga’s unit relies on veteran soldier to teach basics mid-battle
19/ Shyaga's unit had to rely on a career soldier, likely well into his 40s, who had previous combat experience. Such an individual should have been focusing on helping to organise operations, but instead had to spend time teaching his men the basics on the battlefield itself.
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Soldier recounts struggle with jammed machine gun in Valuyki
16/ "I just knew how to take it off the safety and shoot. The guy said he had no idea and that they told him in his unit (in Valuyki) that he would be a driver. I called our starshina [first sergeant]. He tried to put the round into the barrel but failed. The machine gun jammed."
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Shyaga’s accelerated survival training: grenade launchers, machine guns, sniper rifles
12/ When Shyaga enlisted as a contract soldier in March 2022, he was told that he would go on "accelerated survival training courses" lasting 2 weeks, to "teach me up a little bit, teach how to fire from everything – from a grenade launcher, machine gun, sniper rifle".