Thread by @ChrisO_wiki

1/ A lack of working military vehicles has left Russian soldiers reliant on civilian vehicles for logistics and battlefield transportation, but soldiers using such vehicles face severe punishments, including being sent to their deaths in assaults. ⬇️

https://x.com/wartranslated/status/1859677980748022169

2/ A Russian soldier writes to the 'Two Majors' Telegram channel:

"I am a serviceman. What specific status does not matter: contract soldiers, volunteers, and mobilized soldiers are all lumped together in this problem."

3/ "I bought a car (Patriot) for the needs of the Special Military Operation – my own money + from friends and acquaintances who could help. In addition to administrative tasks (to go to a meeting here, a meeting there), I use this car to provide combat missions for my unit.

4/ "Let's go into more detail here. The ammunition is carried to the positions by a military vehicle, for which, of course, they do not provide spare parts. Funds for their purchase are not allocated.

5/ "Civilian "buggies" (often these are cut-down and re-cooked "loaves" [UAZ-452 'Bukhankas'] bought with money from the unit, their friends, families; some are humanitarian) carry personnel, property, and provisions to their positions.

6/ "By the way, they often have to carry ammunition as well. Provision of spare parts and fuel? No, there has never been and there never will be. Everything is at your own expense, literally earned with blood and sweat.

7/ "And so I set out on this Patriot (by the way, it looks decent, not military-like) to civilisation: I'll buy spare parts for this at one market, for that at another, and for a third in a few more stores.

8/ "I'm a military man, I have a ton of money – I can sponsor the Ministry of Defence, why not. I stock up on everything I need and head back. And I meet... a VAI [Military Automobile Inspectorate] crew.

9/ "I show my driver's license, vehicle registration certificate (I'm the owner), and if asked, I'll show my insurance too. Now the fun begins:

- Are you a serviceman?

You can say, "No, I'm a civilian," but they'll run it through the database and see the opposite.

10/ "So, "Yes, I'm a serviceman."

- Do you know the combat order of the chief of staff of the centre group of troops prohibiting servicemen from using their personal vehicles?

"Yes, I know."

11/ "- Do you have a combat order for movement?

"Yes, *you show*, but it violates the combat order of your superior."

- Yes, it does. Let's go to the service car and give an explanation.

Then they write down your details and you can drive on.

12/ "The next day, early in the morning, a VAI report arrives for the units. It has a line with your last name. Punishment is inevitable, the order for punishment will be made that same evening, possible options (from least to most):

13/ "- severe reprimand (for a year)
- severe reprimand with deprivation of bonus (for a year)

14/ - transfer to an assault unit (nobody gives a shit what kind of specialist you were before: artilleryman, tanker, electronic warfare specialist, UAV operator, etc. – they don't give a damn).

15/ "Dilemma: If I don't get spare parts for our vehicle fleet, our vehicle fleet won't be ready to perform combat missions – the ammunition and personnel won't arrive at the line of contact.

16/ "If there is no ammunition and personnel, someone at the very front will be left without support, and maybe the enemy in the rear will feel the weakening. I think there's no need to explain the possible consequences. This is called DISRUPTION OF A COMBAT MISSION.

17/ "Spare parts are just one example. There can be many reasons to use personal vehicles, and they are all related to performing combat missions, that's our job. To those who want to say, "So put black [numbers] on it and drive," I immediately answer: what else?

18/ "Maybe give it my apartment? Maybe transfer wages right away?" There's a war going on here, but they've put on a fucking circus. And, according to information from my friends/comrades from other major areas, they've brought this circus to them, too."

19/ The anonymous soldier's account corroborates a previously reported chronic shortage of military vehicles, and a corresponding crackdown on the use of civilian vehicles despite the impact that this is having on frontline logistics.

https://x.com/ChrisO_wiki/status/1829651012279558563

20/ According to reports from August, this is due to soldiers causing road traffic accidents while driving civilian vehicles. The prohibition is being enforced by Russia's military police, who are notoriously corrupt and widely hated by ordinary soldiers. /end

Source:
t.me/dva_majors/580…