"No Shovels Even" Russian Recruits Outraged Over Poor Equipment and Supplies

Bulletproof vest with plastic plates, small thermal gloves like those for children, poor conditions
"Russia unlikely to launch active offensive until weather improves," experts predict

Russian President Vladimir Putin is wearing tactical goggles during a visit to a mobilization reserve training center in Ryazan Oblast, central Russia, on the 20th (local time). Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Sumi] Recently, Russian soldiers conscripted for the Ukraine war have come forward to expose the poor supply conditions.

According to the British Telegraph on the 22nd (local time), new Russian recruits conscripted into the Ukraine war under Vladimir Putin's partial mobilization order have expressed frustration over inadequate equipment and supplies.

Earlier, on the 21st of last month, President Putin issued a mobilization order targeting 300,000 reservists to support Russian troops stationed in Ukraine. According to Russian sources, as of the 14th, a total of approximately 222,000 reservists have been mobilized for the war. Among them, about 33,000 have been assigned to military units, and around 16,000 are reported to have already participated in combat.

However, the equipment these new recruits received was extremely poor. Photos posted on social media by a recently conscripted man from Stavropol, Russia, showed that the combat kit provided by the administration included a plastic mask that seemed more suitable for survival games (simulated combat). He sarcastically said, "The authorities think we will wear this and fight like in Star Wars," adding, "Thanks for the warm gift for the mobilized warriors."

Another post on social media showed a bulletproof vest containing plastic plates instead of ballistic plates. Notably, the combat gloves necessary for winter battle were small, resembling those for children.

Russian reservists mobilized under the order issued by President Putin are receiving training at the Rostov-on-Don training ground in southern Russia on the 4th (local time). Photo by Yonhap News

The Telegraph predicted that it will be difficult for the Russian troops suffering from equipment shortages to survive this winter on the battlefield. It suggested that they may find it hard to launch active offensives until the weather improves.

In fact, a video posted on social media included testimony that newly conscripted Russian soldiers dropped in an area of Ukraine are living in dugouts dug by hand to endure subzero temperatures. In the video, one recruit said, "We don't even have shovels," and added, "They (the command) come twice a day to deliver food, and we make fires, cut wood, and dig the ground ourselves."

Meanwhile, there is analysis that Russia, pushed back by recent Ukrainian counterattacks, is planning a large-scale retreat from Kherson, a key southern stronghold it forcibly annexed. Kherson is the gateway to the Crimean Peninsula at the mouth of the Dnipro River and one of the four occupied territories that President Putin declared annexed on the 30th of last month.

According to CNN on the 22nd, the Kherson occupation administration announced via Telegram that "due to the tense situation on the front lines, increased risk of large-scale shelling of the city, and threats of terrorist attacks, all civilians in Kherson must immediately leave the city." They added, "Be careful for the safety of your family and friends," and "Do not forget documents, money, valuables, and clothes."

On the same day, the UK Ministry of Defence tweeted that "Russian forces continue to reinforce crossing points over the Dnipro River," and suggested that Russia, struggling to maintain control of Kherson, may retreat southeast of the Dnipro River.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.