Thread by @ChrisO_wiki

1/ Russian soldiers are complaining that their Mad Max-style modified vehicles, with camouflage and anti-drone protection, are attracting fines (and demands for bribes) from traffic cops because they are no longer compliant with traffic regulations. ⬇️

2/ As previously reported, traffic police in Russia's border regions have reportedly been systematically fining Russian troops driving vehicles to the front lines. Russian warbloggers have been giving more details about the situation.

https://x.com/ChrisO_wiki/status/1906761715783459037

3/ The 'Readovka' Telegram channel reports:

"In Krasnodar Krai, traffic police officers demanded a bribe from men who were driving a "Loaf" [UAZ 452 van] to the Special Military Operation."

4/ "The guys equipped the "Loaf" for the needs of our soldiers on the front line - they surrounded the car with an iron [anti-drone] net, and put camouflage on top. They went towards the front in order to then hand over the car for the war.

5/ "In Goryachy Klyuch, they were stopped by traffic police officers. They began to say that the net allegedly covered the license plate and dimensions.

6/ "All this entails a fine of 20,000 rubles or confiscation of the licence, but if necessary then the issue can be resolved for 10,000 rubles [as a bribe].

7/ "The men went to an ATM to withdraw two "Khabarovsks" [5,000 ruble notes], and then returned back and handed the money to the officers. Then, of course, they were calmly released.

8/ "As Readovka was informed by the press service of the traffic police for Krasnodar Krai, an official investigation is being conducted on this fact, after which a further decision will be made."

The 'NgP intelligence' channel comments:

9/ "From the point of view of the law, everything is correct, changes have been made to the factory design, the vehicle has become extremely dangerous and it must be immediately inspected by NAMI employees for dangerous handles and other elements that can injure our people on…

10/ …the frontline roads, or God forbid, a Ukrainian. Seat belts, again, need to be checked.

In general, this mess with some employees vaguely resembling the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate, who keenly see non-factory solutions on front-line SUVs, has already become a byword.

11/ "Our editorial staff had the pleasure of proving several times that the "chandelier" [electronic warfare equipment] is not needed to light up the beach dance floor for juicy girls, and the power bumper is not a confirmation of one's own masculinity, …

12/ … financial responsibility decided everything. No, not a bribe, what are you saying, it's illegal, you can't do that. However, there is no time to argue, and you can't do without a chandelier.

13/ "But if the war horses of our editorial staff can still be mistaken for civilian transport with a huge stretch (and only if they were drunk and bumped into a snag), and to say that it is not at all a fact that you are riding here on frontline business, …

14/ … why do you need generators in the back or a carload of insulation, then how was it possible to find fault with this loaf? It's not at all clear what such a car is for, is it?

15/ "Gentlemen, we understand that everyone should gnaw on their carrots, but there is no need to send your conscience into retirement, earn money on something else.

16/ "And, of course, in no way should we generalise, because in the traffic police we met real officers, men with a conscience, who did not drive by, helped as much as they could, even when they were not obligated to."

17/ The vehicle in question had likely been donated by volunteers, or purchased by the soldiers themselves. The soldiers' problems highlight how dependent the Russian army is on civilian transport – at least 90% of frontline vehicles are reported to be privately provisioned. /end

Sources:
🔹 t.me/readovkanews/9…
🔹 t.me/NgP_raZVedka/2…