Ukraine War Day #226: Flying Off The Shelves…

Dear Readers:

There are a lot of questions among Russians surrounding the mobilization. For example, questions about supplies and equipment: What will be provided by the government for free, and what do soldiers need to purchase with their own money? The answer to the latter question appears to be: Buy as much as you can, with whatever money you have! I have this piece, from about a week ago, by reporter Alexander Boyko.

In the north-west part of Moscow, in Soviet times, there used to be a huge army-supply store called Voentorg, located on the first floor of a building right at the Shchukinskaya Metro stop.

Inside a Russian army-supply store.

In the store one could find rows and rows of uniforms, boots, and ammo. Any card-carrying member of the American NRA would have felt right at home here. Boyko writes that, when he was a little boy, he loved to roam through the aisles of this store. He watched with envy as grown men carrying military tickets had the right to purchase anything they pleased.

That store is no more, and there is no place in Russia where one can buy an actual Russian military [dress] uniform. Ironically one can buy NATO-style camo in hunting-fishing type stores, but he advises not to wear anything like that at the front lines; you might be mistaken for a NATO soldier or sniper!

Boots and ammo, on the other hand: Russian army-supply stores cannot keep up with the throng of customers.

“Might these boots suit Madam?”

Boyko visits an army-supply store called “Ataka”, and sees a big queue waiting in line. He never saw a line there before, gee, I wonder why now? He sees only men standing in line, with the exception of one solitary woman, waiting impatiently with her grown-up son.

The weary mom rattles off a series of numbers: “Berets 3500 rubles. Undershorts 500. Socks 500. Thermal underwear 2100. Mittens 1500. Knee pads 1500. First-aid kit 500. Balaklava 1500. Flask 870.”

Boyko attempts to butt into the conversation: “Has your son served?”

“Five years ago. He will soon turn 31. He has been mobilized. His mood is martial, but it was only today we visited the recruiting station, and we just left from there. We are very tired, please forgive us.”

Inside the store, Boyko sees a man who appears to be around 50 years old. The man asks the salesman for a Lieutenant’s shoulder straps.

“Have you been called up?” the salesman asks him.

“Not yet, but I will be. I am being pro-active, can you also sell me a full kit [Russian разгрузка, razgruzka] ?”

A Russian Alpha type razgruzka kit

“You’re in luck. I have two left.”

A voice from the back of the line calls out: “Then can you save the other one for me?”

A young man drove here all the way from the other side of Moscow to buy an army flask. Apparently all the stores over there have been bought out and swept clean, as if a horde of locusts passed through them.

“You’re buying a flask?” I ask him, surprised. “The army won’t even give you a flask?”

“They will, but I want my own,” he chuckles.

The salesman, whose name is Boris, has never been so busy in his life. He manages the inventory, runs around constantly, answers peoples questions on the run. Including mine.

“What kind of money are people spending on ammo? Just a ballpark number.”

“I would say, starting at 20,000 rubles.”

“What kind of products are they buying mostly?”

“They are being advised to purchase a secondary set of uniforms. We have those here. But they are flying off the shelves! And also berets made of fur. You understand, that winter is coming…”

[to be continued]