1/ Despite searing temperatures of up to 40°C (104°F), Russian fighter pilots in Ukraine and southern Russia are reportedly being issued with only 1 litre (36 oz) of water per day. In between sorties, they are said to be driving around nearby villages begging for water. ⬇️
2/ The Fighterbomber Telegram channel has published a despairing post complaining about a chronic shortage of drinking water for Russian pilots stationed at forward airfields. The author writes:
3/ "The guys have been fighting from forward airfields for several months and for several months everything has been bad with food.
You can say it doesn't exist.
If with dry rations everything was solved after a time, then with water everything turned out to be difficult.
4/ "It turns out that pilots are not allowed water.
None.
5/ "After the intervention of those who don't give a fuck, within a day the issue with rations was essentially resolved, and the water issue was partially resolved. A water standard has appeared.
One
Litre
Of
Water
Per day
Per person.
6/ "When not flying combat missions, pilots are forced to drive around the surrounding villages in search of water."
7/ It should be noted that the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine has determined that an adequate daily fluid intake is about 3.7 litres (130 oz) of fluids a day. In very hot temperatures, more water is likely to be needed or dehydration will result.
8/ The channel appeals to Russian bottled water manufacturers to "deliver water to the nearest military airfield. Preliminary, this is Voronezh, Rostov, and any military airfield in Crimea. Wherever is more convenient for you.
9/ Water in one-and-a-half-litre bottles is more convenient, but we'll take any."
The south of Ukraine and Russia are currently experiencing very high temperatures and severe drought. The Kakhovka dam's destruction in June 2023 has cut off most of the water supply to Crimea.
10/ Ukrainian attacks on Russian supply chains are also likely to be a factor in causing shortages of food and water. Russian troops have recently filmed themselves having to drink nettle soup for lack of food supplies. /end
1/ An ongoing crisis at Russian Railways is deepening, with a 50% cut on payments to employees and such a severe shortage of personnel that some divisions of the company are down to 40% of their intended staff numbers. Despite this, it has imposed a ban on hiring. ⬇️
2/ The state-owned railway monopoly has been facing a worsening staffing and financial crisis, brought on by a combination of a lack of spare parts caused by sanctions, economic problems and staff leaving for much better-paid jobs in the army or factories.
3/ The VChK-OGPU Telegram channel reports that the company is trying to fix the hole in its finances by drastically cutting expenses on employee costs and banning hiring new people. Bonuses have been cancelled, leading to a large reduction in salaries.
1/ Vladimir Putin was sheltered under a bomb-proof roof during today's Victory Day parade in Moscow. This appears to be the first time this has happened, highlighting the Russian government's nervousness about the threat of Ukrainian drone attacks. ⬇️
2/ In previous years, the Russian president and other VIPs have been seated in an open-air stand adjacent to the Kremlin's outer wall, overlooking Red Square. This has been the case in 2020, 2021 and 2023 (pictured here).
3/ This year, for the first time, Putin and his guests have been sheltered under a giant extended roof. This is said to be "in case a UAV appears", and may be intended to block any munitions being dropped on the dignitaries. /end
1/ The Russian army has created a badge specially for stormtroopers (if they survive long enough to claim it). While Russian warbloggers have welcomed it, the design seems to have one problem: it appears to depict an American M9 bayonet. ⬇️
2/ The badge "For Assault" ('Za Shturm') was reportedly created by order of Defence Minister Andrei Belousov earlier this year, and has already been awarded to an unnamed recipient in the Moscow region.
3/ According to the 'Dolg_Z' Telegram channel: "The badge is awarded to a serviceman for personal participation in offensive actions."
1/ Muscovites are being told not to use elevators in high-rise buildings on the morning of 9 May because mobile phone signals will be blocked, preventing emergency operators assisting anyone who gets stuck. This is a significant problem in a city with 12,719 high-rises.
2/ As part of its security measures to prevent disruptions to tomorrow's Victory Day events in Moscow, the Russian government is shutting down mobile phone and Internet communications across the city.
3/ Elevator management companies have issued an alert to "please avoid using elevators between 09:00 and 13:00 on 9 March" as "during festive events, there may be Internet and communication problems."
1/ Enslaved people are being sold to the Russian army for up to 100,000 rubles ($1,240) each, according to anti-slavery campaigners. The issue highlights Russia's hidden but chronic problem with modern slavery, which Putin's government has failed to tackle. ⬇️
2/ Russia has by far the worst record on modern slavery of any country in Europe, with an estimated 1.9 million people living in servitude. This reflects a combination of extreme corruption, weak enforcement of anti-slavery laws, and government collaboration with slavers.
3/ According to the Global Slavery Index, Russia has the eighth-highest slavery rate in the world, at 13 slaves per 1,000 people. In absolute terms, only North Korea has a larger number of slaves. Russia's government does less about slavery than all but 6 other states.
1/ Russian bomber and army pilots are appealing for public help to buy them fire-resistant overalls. As Russian warbloggers admit, it's a sign of serious problems with the centralised procurement of equipment for the Russian Aerospace Forces. ⬇️
2/ Problems with equipment supply have long been documented in the Russian army, where soldiers often complain that they have to buy everything themselves as the military gives them so little. However, the Aerospace Forces seem to be having similar problems.
3/ "The Voivode Broadcasts" Telegram channel has issued an appeal to raise 720,000 rubles ($8,910) to buy 32 fire-resistant overalls – 16 for bomber pilots and 16 for Army Aviation units. The channel writes: