Diary of a Russian soldier
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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.