Russian soldier seeks church donations amid military hardships
Anton Gerashchenko, an advisor to the head of the Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs, frequently shares content on Platform X, formerly known as Twitter, displaying the situation in Russia. This time, a video shows a Russian soldier going to a church to beg for money. It's well-known that Vladimir Putin's army, particularly the conscripts, often lack the necessary gear.
7:16 AM EST, November 29, 2023
Complaints about superiors are common among Russian soldiers. They often lack basic equipment or even food. A few weeks ago, in a special statement, some army members confessed that only a handful of soldiers remained from their once large group.
This is peculiar, considering for Vladimir Putin, the war in Ukraine is a priority. This year's budget of the Russian Federation has allocated around 42 percent of all expenses, or approximately 13.4 billion rubles, towards war needs. It’s projected to remain the same way for 2024-2026, as earlier emphasized by Russian media.
Regardless of substantial financial investment, Russian conscripts still face significant equipment challenges. One of them has resorted to the church to seek financial assistance.
A Russian man seeks monetary help
The man approached the Russian Orthodox Church, seeking donations. During his speech, he unintentionally disclosed the staggering number of losses and the conditions soldiers in the Donetsk region endure.
I am from Petersburg. My name is Viktor Igor Gennadievich. Currently, in the Donetsk region, there's a regiment that perpetually pushes forward. Our losses are severe. I was absent for 10 days, during which about 1000 people died - stresses the Russian soldier.
Viktor Igor Gennadievich clarifies that he collects funds solely for essentials that the Ministry of Defense isn't able to supply on time.
We aren't competing with the Ministry of Defense. We are trying to bring to the front line supplies that aren’t readily available. The gloves I bring are given out as a replacement for medals - adds the Russian soldier.
