• News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
Russian soldier shares exactly what's going wrong with Russian army

Home> News

Published 17:12 13 Aug 2022 GMT+1

Russian soldier shares exactly what's going wrong with Russian army

He served in the army until he left over medical reasons

Claire Reid

Claire Reid

A Russian soldier has written a book in which he shares what he believes to the failings inside Vladmir Putin’s army. 

Paratrooper Pavel Filatiev, 33, has gone into detail about the army’s shortcomings, including poorly fitting uniforms and rusting weaponry. 

Filatiev was part of Putin’s army when they invaded Ukraine earlier this year, but quit on medical grounds. 

Advert

Now, in extracts from his shocking book - titled ZOV after the symbols painted on Putin's military vehicles - shared by independent media outlets iStories and Meduza, Filatiev said: “We had no moral right to attack another country, especially the people closest to us. 

“When all of this started, I knew few people who believed in Nazis and, moreover, [who] wanted to fight against Ukraine. 

“We didn’t have hatred and we didn’t think of Ukrainians as enemies.

Pavel Filatiev.
East2West

Advert

“Most of the army is dissatisfied with what is happening there. 

“[They’re] dissatisfied with the government and their commander, with Putin and his policies, [and] with the defence minister, who [has not served] in the army.”

Filatiev said he first became aware of how under-prepared his country was when he was given an ill-fitting, second-hand coat, that he refused to accept. 

He said training for the war led to many servicemen getting sick because they did not have the proper uniform - claiming ‘30 servicemen’ had to be admitted to a special unit for infectious diseases. 

Advert

He went on: “In mid-February, my company was at a training ground in Staryi Krym. I realised that something was definitely brewing — everyone who had been discharged or fallen ill was rounded up and sent to the training ground.

East2West

"Over the next few days we went to the firing range, where I finally picked up my machine gun. 

“It turned out that my machine gun had a broken belt and was just rusty. 

Advert

“On the very first night of shooting, the [cartridge] jammed.”

He also claimed the start of the war was chaotic and his own commander didn’t even know what he was supposed to be doing. 

“Where we were going and why wasn’t clear. [But] it was clear that a real war had begun. I [later] found out that [we had] orders to go to Kherson,” he wrote. 

“It became clear that we had attacked Ukraine. We already had wounded and dead [servicemen].

Advert

“The command had no communications. The commander didn’t understand what was happening.”

Once there, Filatiev said it became apparent that all of the training had been ‘on paper’, adding: “We still have the same tactics as our grandfathers."

East2West

Elsewhere in the book, Filatiev claims medics were sent out without syringes or painkillers. 

The paratrooper said: “I had to get treatment and buy medicines with my own money.

“For two months I tried to get treatment from the army: I went to the prosecutor’s office, I went to the command, to the head of the hospital, and I wrote to the president.

“I decided to go through the military-medical board and leave [the army] for health reasons.”

If you would like to donate to the Red Cross Emergency Appeal, which will help provide food, medicines and basic medical supplies, shelter and water to those in Ukraine, click here for more information 

Featured Image Credit: East2West

Topics: Russia, Ukraine

Claire Reid
Claire Reid

Claire is a journalist at UNILAD who, after dossing around for a few years, went to Liverpool John Moores University. She graduated with a degree in Journalism and a whole load of debt. When not writing words in exchange for money she is usually at home watching serial killer documentaries surrounded by cats.

Advert

Advert

Advert

  • Donald Trump threatens Putin with ‘further sanctions’ as he demands ceasefire in Ukraine
  • Impact Russian drone hitting Chernobyl power plant ‘protecting world from radiation' could have on Earth if significantly damaged
  • Shocking footage shows Russian drone hitting Chernobyl power plant that 'protects the world from radiation'
  • Russia and Ukraine finally agree to 'Black Sea' ceasefire deal following long talk with US

Choose your content:

an hour ago
2 hours ago
  • an hour ago

    Former FBI agent reveals quick thinking trick he pulled off to stop his own murder

    Scott Payne had to think on his feet to escape an undercover mission with his life

    News
  • an hour ago

    Ingredient found in Ziploc freezer bags could have harmful effects on body, shocking new lawsuit claims

    A Ziploc spokesperson has stated its products are 'safe when used as directed and that the lawsuit is without merit'

    News
  • 2 hours ago

    Woman, 27, found alive after 3 weeks missing in mountains details how she survived

    Officials said it was a 'miracle' Tiffany Slaton survived her ordeal

    News
  • 2 hours ago

    Diddy’s former personal assistant details how he would allegedly prepare hotel rooms and what they were stocked with

    David James was an assistant to the rapper between 2007 and 2009

    Celebrity