Diary of a Russian soldier

By the way, on the march we had with us: a duffel bag, unloading, pouch, shovel, UGC, stockings and a gas mask.

December 28th.

I washed the floor in the morning, today everything seems to be in class. I slept like the dead, fell asleep quickly and got up on command. This is the first time. Still, there was a drill today, but there was nothing complicated, and I looked at the dawn. They also told how AK and Pecheneg (machine gun) work. More precisely, about why the barrel does not overheat and about the AK-12, a mixture of M4 and AK74 with high accuracy and rate of fire and lack of recoil. Today, one guy was sent to plaster the ceiling and I was with him as a helper. I'm not used to construction, I don't understand how I used to do it.

I also pulled myself up with weight, it was very difficult, the muscles had already begun to atrophy, I hadn't trained like this for a long time. Last time in civilian life.

December 29th.

The morning was easy, everything was done quickly, there was a lot of time to shave and even started writing a diary in the morning.

In general, the day is easy, no one really bothers us, we just sit and supposedly teach duties. We went to the sauna, Volodya and I swayed, I stood the bar at 3:05. So far, my record. Company stand down…

December 30th.

The morning didn't go well, in the morning my friend got sick at the construction site. They put him on a bed all white. To be honest, I was scared for him. We took him to the infirmary. There was also a foam party today, the second platoon, as always, decided who would do what. Well, we did everything quickly with our platoon. I also cleaned the belt. Initially, it was painted green, but in our department it is customary to remove the paint, immediately with a metal brush, and then with a small sandpaper. After lunch, the day is light, the barracks were decorated before the new year. They even allowed me to go to bed and sleep. The guys from the visits brought delicious food for everyone, there was even my favorite cookie. By the evening, there was some kind of awareness of the new year and with it sadness and longing.

December, 31st.

I slept well and just looked out the window for an hour and a half. We went outside, and there was snow.. It was very unexpected. Some kind of magic. It was a great day, we were given our phones and I called my family all the time. And I also sewed a couple of secret pockets in the form, for the future. So that you can secretly carry your phone with you. We are waiting for the new year…

They started preparing for the holiday. They carried tables, chairs, and set the table. The second platoon was dumb as always, but we tried. I cut up the whole sausage and a lot of other small things. I didn't want to eat on New Year's Eve itself, there were a couple of contests and skits. We went to the fireworks and went to bed at one o'clock in the morning.

There is a depressive mood in the army on New Year's Eve, you realize that you are losing your life here..

January 1st.

At 5:30, I was awake as usual. We got up at 9. We got up, washed, dressed and started eating everything that was left. I was standing next to a bucket of chicken, it was 7 liters. I ate 5 chicken legs, and then climbed into the same bucket with olivier salad and herring under a fur coat and greedily ate it all. Top with 3 mugs of coffee and a bunch of cookies and other sweets. Coffee in the army is a rarity, especially for the first half of the year. It is so unusual to drink coffee and watch TV carelessly while in the army.. Well, that's how my new year in the army went.

January 2.

I got up in the morning with a stomach ache. It's normal after a day of overeating. After I got out of bed, it suddenly darkened in my eyes so much that I was blind for about 5 seconds. Soon everything passed and I went to have breakfast. I had a little snack and went to the barracks. It was bad. I had stomach aches, chills and weakness. And then suddenly a doctor came and asked if we had any complaints. I didn't want to talk right away, but suddenly it went dark in the ranks again and there was a noise in my ears. I said I was sick. The doctor gave me a thermometer to take my temperature. It turned out to be 38.4. He gave me a thermometer in my mouth, it showed 36.6. He said that I might have been worried, so he showed the thermometer. And it's safer in the mouth. They gave me pills and told me not to eat anything, just to drink boiling water. The doctor arrived in the evening. There was no fever, but there was a fever. She sent me to bed early. It's 21:20, evening verification is underway, and I'm writing this text and going to bed.

The first period.

January 3rd.

In the morning, our patients were raised early, their temperature was taken and they were given pills. I woke up in a sweat, all wet. I have a little headache and feel sick about strong black tea without sugar.

Today is the day when you need to leave for the brigade. The course of the young fighter is over and it's time to go to the main place of service. We quickly packed up our things and Comrade Major took us to his car. He took us to the first-aid post in that new unit for us, without even going into the barracks. He said he would watch until the evening and let him go to the barracks. There were 4 of us and most likely we were poisoned by the salad "herring under a fur coat". Since we were sitting at the same table and we had a plate with the same salad that our friend brought from a visit. The one who ate the most is the worst of all.

The infirmary is cool, the door is old with a broken handle, the walls are worn with paint and some scary beds and blankets. And the bedside tables are broken.

In the evening we arrived at the barracks, the first thing the sergeants said was to forget about the phrases "that's right", "allow me to apply" and other soldier phrases. The sergeants here are the same conscripts as me, only they served for half a year or a year more. The first impression is positive.

A little bit about the part. The part is located in the forest, nothing is visible in the window except the forest. If in the old place the windows overlooked the city and you could look at the city traffic, beautiful girls in skirts and in general there was a feeling that you were among people. Then here it feels like you're some kind of Mowgli. Looking ahead, I can say that it will be very depressing.

January 4th.

We got up cheerful in the morning, we did everything slowly. Let's go to the firing range, 8 rounds each with an AKC with a collimator sight. I didn't like it, it blinds the eye and the target is hard to see. Then they threw a training grenade and fired 8 rounds again. The sight was better this time. But I didn't like everything exactly. The bosses are strict here, but that's okay, so it would be completely fucked up. We were also forced by 4 spirits to clean machine guns, from which 40 people fired. We cleaned for 3 hours and the attendant did not want to take it.

Today I found out that my position is a sapper, and Volodya is a senior sapper.

January 5th.

The climb was fast. We were forced to level the beds and wash the floors. The morning check-up was easy. We weren't particularly touched. From the very morning there was a "work session" according to the schedule. According to the schedule at 8:45-9:45, but actually before lunch. They immediately told me to sweep the park with military equipment, then carry some stones from place to place, solve some kind of metal mesh in the fence. In general, we were doing some nonsense. After lunch, everything is the same. Then dinner. Dinner ended at 19:30. The walk was great too.

January 6th.

Today is PCB day, Saturday. I was forced to wash the mold off the ceiling and walls. Inventory: a sponge, a rag, a brush and a partner who, as you can see, does not have work clothes. And that's why he can't work, but only hold the ladder. Anyway, I'm tired. We have mold all over the barracks. Well, after lunch, as always, cleaning until the evening. I also called my wife and talked on the payphone. The world seemed to be on its feet. In fact, a soldier doesn't need much to be happy. Talk to your family on the phone 2 times a week.

By the way, I haven't written before. But when we arrived at the unit, the old-timers came up to us and asked how we would live? By statute or by hazing. They said that if according to the charter, then they will fuck us up with this charter. And if it's hazing, it'll be easier. But we must do everything for them, of course, observe all the traditions associated with hazing, if they recruit people for some kind of work, then we must always be volunteers. If the sergeant is not a "pologen" and not an "elephant", then he has the same rights as you and he cannot order you to do something. Like my squad leader Gena, for example. He is a sergeant, but he was not transferred and he remained a spirit. But if a soldier is an elephant or a canopy and at the same time he is a private, then he is higher in rank than you and you must obey him. Even in the store, we can only buy ice cream and water, in winter, as now you can halva. There is a huge ban on coffee and instant noodles.

I didn't want to live by hazing, but I was the only one who disagreed, and I realized if I refused, then I was fucked.

January 7.

Sunday, we sit in the auditorium and watch a movie on the big TV. Later, I sewed up my clothes, washed my work uniform. I managed to eat 2 servings for dinner. I love army rolls with butter.

January 8th.

The morning was quite ordinary, the exercise went well. We worked all day at the sawmill, shifting logs from place to place. Unfortunately, there is no heating here and you need to prepare firewood yourself… It is a very tedious and difficult task and a regular one. In the evening, Vova gave his shaving foam “nivea man" a try. There's really no irritation from her, the guy didn't lie. Very cool. There is no burning sensation at all and 0% alcohol. But mine even burned him.. Lights out at last.

January 9th.

Today we went to the hospital for a second examination by a psychiatrist. When I got on the bus, nostalgia flooded in, the civilized world seemed so unusual. Similar roads and a bridge similar to my city. In the army, you begin to appreciate freedom in a way that you didn't appreciate before. There was a cafe in the hospital and we went to it. I bought myself waffles, despite the fact that it is forbidden to buy them and coffee too. It's cool in the hospital.

January 10th.

Today, in physical education, I was called out of action and sent to carry windows and help install them. While waiting for the car with windows, I managed to go and call my dad and wife. It's hard for Mom to get through, she doesn't hear the calls at work. When I lifted the glass, it was rubberized around the edges, but I managed to cut my finger. The little finger was pierced through, not much, but there was a lot of blood. By the time I reached the medical point, all my hands were covered in blood. Probably got into a vein. They bandaged it and told me to come for a dressing for 3 days.

I rarely write this, but Sveta, mom, dad and brother, if you read this.. I love you. I hope I've cheered you up.

January 11th.

Me today. And a couple more people were taken to work. Let's go to the training ground. We sat in the car for a long time, chatted about nonsense and froze. After that, we went to look for some kind of tent to assemble it and take it to the unit. We walked, as it seemed to me, for about a kilometer. It was terribly cold there. Shooting was carried out at the training ground. Our tent was occupied by other units, covered with a camouflage net, and an oven was being heated. Our foreman, who brought us, called the battalion commander and received instructions to go back. Along the way, they threw out some old wheels and took a water tank for field exercises. They just froze very, very, very much. Since the work uniform is issued to the unit one for 5 generations of soldiers and when the fifth person uses it, it is thrown out. So, we were unlucky, we are the fifth. This form will be thrown out after us. Over the years, it has become all torn, peeling, it no longer has any feathers inside, it is very thin and cold, but it is designed for winter. There are no other clothes.

After lunch, we also worked in the park, swept, and so on.

Dinner, hemming, washing, sleeping.

January 12.

Today, during the work, I was taken to the office. I cleaned the plywood with sandpaper, chatted with the commanders, just sat there. During my service, this is one of my best days. However, I cut my finger at the end of the day.

I hope I'll be here more often now. Normal guys, like my friends. I recognized them from the other side. But the most important thing is that I have worked a lot and I hope it will be more and more often.

13th of January.

Today everyone went to carry firewood, but Artyom and I (this is a guy from my city) stayed on the PCB. We sat in the warmth and cleaned up slowly.

They also told us to get a haircut, we wanted to do it before the bath. But the foreman told us to go to the bathhouse, and then it came to us to get a haircut. His logic is fucked up, of course. After lunch, the parade ground was swept. And then, in the middle of cleaning, we were abruptly jerked, as it turned out, I was part of the garrison duty unit. We ran to the barracks, got a helmet, unloading, a knife, a machine gun and 4 horns to it and quickly ran to the headquarters. All this must be done within 10 minutes. It was my first time and I thought something had happened. At headquarters, we were given 120 rounds each, and I understood that if they were giving out cartridges, then there was some kind of incident in the city.. A terrorist attack, an invasion by foreign troops or something similar is not this. I was not afraid, but interested. Soon they were told to return the cartridges and disperse… It was a test of combat readiness. At such moments, you begin to understand what an army is.

January 14th.

Today is a day off, Sunday. I'm waiting for my family to arrive. Despite the intercession in the outfit. There won't be much time, you need to have time to enjoy their presence. We arrived and had a great time. I don't want to let them go..

Before joining the outfit, they didn't even check my knowledge of duties and the rest. The officer on duty was my platoon commander and just asked if they had come to see me and how they sat at all. Everything was fine in the outfit too. The attendant turned out to be a normal guy and told me: "I don't get high in your brain, make everything okay and go." We cleaned everything quickly and efficiently and I sent my partner to bed at 23:20. It's very early. My first outfit in the battalion started well and I hope it will end well. I'm not even standing on the bedside table, I'm just sitting on a chair next to it and no one cares about it.. Awesome.

15.01.2018

2:08 I'm sitting in an outfit

I have already learned 2 songs and the duties of the day staff. I feel normal and cheerful, as I lift my ass from a padded chair just to go to the toilet. I woke up my partner and went to sleep. By morning, I didn't get enough sleep and stood on the bedside table, thereby changing my partner. Soon he blunted the outfit for the first time. The duty officer left the barracks, and I greeted the official with the phrase "company duty officer on the way out." In such cases, the command "private on duty for the duty officer (surname)" is given, although this is a controversial issue. Some people say that you cannot perform the duties of a duty officer standing on the bedside table, they must be performed by another day person. That is, you call him the phrase "company duty officer on the way out," and he introduces himself as "day duty officer." No one knows how to do it right. But you need to know which examiner prefers and adjust to each one separately. Yeah.. It's the army, baby.

Then we, two day workers, were loaded with a lot of work and we somehow managed to cope in the evening. We washed toilets, floors and similar works.

16.01.2018

I went to get the tent again this morning. When we arrived at the place, we had to wait for about an hour again and the foreman told us to light a fire, which we did. We took the tent and had to wait for the floor from it, windows and other components to be brought to us.

Taking a tent, we went to another part of the landfill and there we found an installed tent with a melted stove. We warmed up in it. We waited until all the components from the tent were brought to us and left. These trips are starting to be disliked. After lunch, work again. We do not have classes as indicated in the class schedule, we just always work. And this is the norm here, everyone knows about it and everything is exactly the same for everyone. We are just a free labor force.

17.01.2018

In the morning, without charging, the whole battalion went to clean up the snow. Immediately after breakfast, they took me and two other fighters away without explaining anything. They just told me to take the UGC, stockings, gloves and gas masks. We were taken to a classroom where classes were held and told how to use DP-5B and arranged a test. I didn't do a bad job. They also studied the VHPR, a military chemical reconnaissance device. Well, in the evening I joined the day-care outfit in the park.

Here's how such an outfit goes:

In total, 3 day workers and a duty officer take over. The task of the day person is to make a detour of the park in 20 minutes. During these 20 minutes, you need to hang tokens of a special color in certain places. In the period from 00 to 20 minutes, red tokens are hung, from 20 to 40 yellow, and from 40 to 00 green. This is done so that the attendant can check whether you are doing your rounds or just sleeping somewhere. The route is actually long and you need to go fast. In total, you need to make 6 laps. That is, you need to walk for 2 hours. 2 other day workers at this time perform the tasks of the duty officer. At night, the second sleeps, and the third sits on duty and, if necessary, lifts the barrier and answers the phone. And every 2 hours we change places. At night, of course, you also need to patrol, many do not do this and take risks. We need to see who is on duty in the park and in the part. If normal men, then you can not patrol, but relax. It is difficult in winter, there is a lot of snow and it is hard to walk. But in the summer I think it will be the most exciting.

18.01.2018

I'm on duty, it's 1:15 a.m., everything is fine and I don't want to sleep. The second time I managed to sleep well, I passed out in 2 counts. Vovan woke me up 5 minutes before my shift and I didn't want to get up at all, I didn't immediately understand where I was and what I was doing here. It's really not that bad here, you know what's required of you and you calmly do your job. By the end of the outfit, my legs just fall off, but when I came to the barracks, I abruptly became the most cheerful person on earth.