An astonishing video seemingly exposed the shocking conditions in which Russian troops are forced to fight in Ukraine. A group of Russian soldiers addressed a video message to their country’s Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu. In it, they appealed for better provisions and days off, claiming they have been fighting non-stop since August 2.
The clip was shared on X and translated by Anton Gerashchenko, an advisor to the Ukrainian Minister of Internal Affairs. The video, which could not be independently verified, appears to show troops who are fighting in the frontline village of Krynky, on the east bank of the Dnipro River.
One of the soldiers described the troops’ situation as “lawlessness” and claimed their command doesn’t provide them with the necessary supplies.
This, he claimed, places the troops in the bizarre situation of having to go shopping under Ukrainian shelling.
He said: “We buy generators with our own money. Food and gasoline are brought in in minimal quantities. Because of this, we have to go to the store, which is 7.5km (4.6mi) away from our deployment site.
“The road is shelled by Ukrainians. Some of us die on the way from the store. We are not provided with water. Problems with the bathhouse started in winter.”
To add insult to injury, the soldier claimed there are issues with salaries, as he explained: “There are a lot of questions about payments. None of us have been paid for December. Also per diem allowances for participation in active combat operations are not paid. Many of us receive salaries for regular servicemen while in Krynky.”
Krynky is a small village on the eastern bank of the Dnipro, an area which largely remains held by Russian troops.
The settlement, however, was conquered by Ukrainians in late October last year, and Kyiv has since maintained at great cost a bridgehead, which depends almost entirely on small boats crossing the Dnipro for resupply.
Over the past gruelling months of fighting, Russian drones have been targeting the ships, while Ukraine responded by shooting down the aerial vehicles.
Speaking about the constant clashes, the Russian troops said: “On October 14, when the Ukrainians broke through to our shore, the shelling and drone pressure increased many times over.
“Many of our wounded comrades left Krynky and many died. Many wounded soldiers die due to the long evacuation.
“We are not abandoning our positions, but moral fatigue is growing daily. Our command does not rotate people, does not let us go on deserved vacations, does not provide us with winter uniforms.”
