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'They turned us into savages': Russian soldier describes start of Ukraine invasion
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/aug/17/they-turned-us-into-savages-russian-soldier-describes-start-of-ukraine-invasion‘They turned us into savages’: Russian soldier describes start of Ukraine invasion
In this extract from former paratrooper Pavel Filatyev’s memoir, he recalls wild looting after soldiers entered Kherson
Pavel Filatyev
Wed 17 Aug 2022 12.37 EDT
These are extracts from Pavel Filatyev’s memoir, ZOV, which he published on his Vkontakte social media page on 1 August. ZOV, named after the tactical markings painted on Russian army vehicles that have been adopted as a pro-war symbol, is the most detailed voluntary account from a Russian soldier participating in the invasion of Ukraine.
In the first translated extract, Filatyev describes, hours after the Russian troops entered the city, how his unit ransacked the port of Kherson.
1 March 2022
Half an hour later, we arrived at the port of Kherson. It was dark. The units that were marching ahead of us had already occupied the port. The soldiers were looking for a place to sleep and clean themselves. The territory consisted of a checkpoint, an office, and a building resembling a dormitory with warehouses, changing rooms, and shower points. The ships were at the pier. The mortar division took over a large office on the ground floor. Other divisions such as the 247th Guards Air Assault Regiment and the Stavropol Spetsnaz (the former Russian military intelligence) began entering the port. I decided to explore the area.
Have you ever seen the paintings of the Sack of Rome by the barbarians? This is the best way to describe what was going on around me. Everyone looked worn-out and feral, and we all began to scour the buildings in search of food, water, a shower and a place for the night; some started grabbing computers and whatever valuable goods they could find. I was no exception: I found a hat in a smashed-up truck onsite and took it. My balaclava was too cold. I became disgusted with all the looting, despite my wild state.
In an office with televisions, a few people were sitting watching the news; they’d found a bottle of champagne there.
Coming out of the building, I saw a battalion commander and greeted him as was customary in our military rules. He greeted me, shook my hand and I bummed a cigarette from him, Marlboro Red. While smoking, I asked him how everything was going. He told me that everything was fine, that it will all be over soon … With these thoughts in mind and hoping deep down inside that this all will end soon, I returned to the offices occupied by the mortar division to get some sleep.
[...]
In this extract from former paratrooper Pavel Filatyev’s memoir, he recalls wild looting after soldiers entered Kherson
Pavel Filatyev
Wed 17 Aug 2022 12.37 EDT
These are extracts from Pavel Filatyev’s memoir, ZOV, which he published on his Vkontakte social media page on 1 August. ZOV, named after the tactical markings painted on Russian army vehicles that have been adopted as a pro-war symbol, is the most detailed voluntary account from a Russian soldier participating in the invasion of Ukraine.
In the first translated extract, Filatyev describes, hours after the Russian troops entered the city, how his unit ransacked the port of Kherson.
1 March 2022
Half an hour later, we arrived at the port of Kherson. It was dark. The units that were marching ahead of us had already occupied the port. The soldiers were looking for a place to sleep and clean themselves. The territory consisted of a checkpoint, an office, and a building resembling a dormitory with warehouses, changing rooms, and shower points. The ships were at the pier. The mortar division took over a large office on the ground floor. Other divisions such as the 247th Guards Air Assault Regiment and the Stavropol Spetsnaz (the former Russian military intelligence) began entering the port. I decided to explore the area.
Have you ever seen the paintings of the Sack of Rome by the barbarians? This is the best way to describe what was going on around me. Everyone looked worn-out and feral, and we all began to scour the buildings in search of food, water, a shower and a place for the night; some started grabbing computers and whatever valuable goods they could find. I was no exception: I found a hat in a smashed-up truck onsite and took it. My balaclava was too cold. I became disgusted with all the looting, despite my wild state.
In an office with televisions, a few people were sitting watching the news; they’d found a bottle of champagne there.
Coming out of the building, I saw a battalion commander and greeted him as was customary in our military rules. He greeted me, shook my hand and I bummed a cigarette from him, Marlboro Red. While smoking, I asked him how everything was going. He told me that everything was fine, that it will all be over soon … With these thoughts in mind and hoping deep down inside that this all will end soon, I returned to the offices occupied by the mortar division to get some sleep.
[...]