What they told the correspondent of Novaya Gazeta. Europe ”employees of the Russian military enlistment offices and contractors who had already visited Ukraine when he“ recruited ”to war

Six months after the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, it can be stated that the Russian side has obvious problems with the composition, as a result of which the country actually mobilize those who want to go to war. We are talking about the creation of "personalized" regiments, and the endless advertising of various PMCs on social networks. The contract can be signed, even just having come to the Russian military registration and enlistment offices. At the request of Novaya Gazeta. Europe ”correspondent Sergei Zhitnikov tried accessible ways to“ sign up for war ”in St. Petersburg and listened to those who oversee this process at the lower level, and also talked with participants in the fighting, who decided to go to war again.

“What are 300 pieces? I will earn five times more there ... "

Some time ago, articles appeared in the district newspapers of the Leningrad Region about the recruitment of citizens for "contract service in the registered units of the Western Military District to participate in a special military operation." This information was duplicated on the VKontakte social network. I called Telegram to one of those who left a comment under the message and said that I was also thinking of signing a contract, so I want to know how it really is there. The interlocutor, who called Sasha, said that one contract had already worked.

- In March, I came to the military enlistment office, asked about the contract “for the ribbon”. I was immediately issued for three months. Then they sent to Belgorod. There is something like training. There were forty people of us, mostly my age: 35–45 years. Everyone served, half of the real gunpowder sniffed. Some in Chechnya, some in South Ossetia. We were driven there for a week, mostly watched how we shoot from Kalash. And then I was sent to Kadyrov’s regiment by a special forces ...

- After a weekly preparation - and immediately in special forces? But what about hand -to -hand combat, disguise, ownership of cold weapons?

-I already had experience, I had to let a little blood. Therefore, they determined ... the rest in other parts were scattered.

- Is it not only Chechens in that regiment?

- Of course not! There are less than half of Chechens there, the rest from the forest along the pine. There was even one Buryat.

- And there were no misunderstandings? He himself said that some contractors in Chechnya were noted. And then they are determined in Kadyrov’s regiment.

- No, stop. It was identified there. Because in Chechnya he did not fight. And so those who could get the “bloodsmen” there were sent to other parts. By the way, I also did not really like that regiment. Therefore, he did not sign the second contract right on the spot. Well, I wanted to relax.

- And what did not like? The Czechs were arranged?

- Well, almost! As such, there was no grandfather, but still it was not very comfortable for me there. For the first time, you don’t have to choose, go where they will send. But now you can already choose yourself.

- So it seems only in registered battalions are now being recruited. Well, those that the governor of the Leningrad region supports and pays part of the money ...

-Firstly, they gain not only in these battalions. And secondly ... Well, what is he paying there? 300 pieces in three months. "Behind the ribbon" for these three months can be earned five times more. Yes, and reluctance to go to artillery. No, I am again for short -term - and in the infantry. You ask the military registration and enlistment office, there you should chew everything normally.

- Wait, but how to make five times more? To rob, or what?

- Who is there to rob?! Everyone who had money was fucked in Europe for a long time. You can make money differently there. But this is not a telephone conversation. You will come, in place they will quickly explain everything to you.

After the question of robberies, Alexander very quickly turned the conversation. It was not possible to get through to him anymore.

" Cargo 200 " happens, as without it? "

The next step is the district military registration and enlistment office of the Leningrad region. A rather pleasant woman Anna Nikolaevna confirmed that a recruitment of residents of the Leningrad Region is underway to the personal battalions “Ladoga” and “Nevsky”, which are partially funded from the regional budget.

- When signing the contract, 100 thousand rubles are transferred to the card. This is a plus to the money that pays the Ministry of Defense. Then for three months you go to the landfill in the Luzhsky district where you are trained. These are artillery regiments. All this time you get 50 thousand from the governor and the monetary content in the part. But not the fact that you will spend three months in the meadow.

Now they are being prepared for October, so they can be sent in two months in two months. If you still want to go after studying.

- How is it? That is, you can go to the training ground for three months, get money from the governor, and then refuse to go?

- That's right. But few refuse. "Behind the ribbon" another cash content is a salary of 250 thousand and above. Depending on how far you are from the combat zone. At the end of the contract, you are given the certificate "Member of the hostilities". And you have the right to serious benefits. Including for a free plot of land for individual housing or summer house. And, of course, on a social package. In case of injury, you receive 3 million rubles. "Cargo 200" - 7 million.

- And what, often there is a “load 200”?

- It happens where without it.

- And how often?

- Not very often.

-And yet, how much has returned to the Leningrad region in this way?

- I do not have such statistics.

I feel that Anna Nikolaevna does not intend to speak on this subject and can completely close, therefore I am changing the topic.

- But I heard that it is possible without training at once “for the ribbon”. How is that?

- Well, this is better for those who have combat experience. Or the specialty that is required. Here I have a list.

Anna Nikolaevna shows a sheet in which the required specialties are listed: 1) shooter; 2) the driver of categories C, D, E; 3) a driver-driver; 4) paramedic, nurse.

- And what is a “shooter”? Everyone shoots there.

- Well, they called that snipers. But there is a difficult selection, so there is no need to bother. And in general, if there is no combat experience, then it is best in registered units. At least they will teach there. But if you really want to go right away, then it is better to go to the assembly point in St. Petersburg and ask there. They, if you suit them, will immediately be sent to Belgorod, and they will be distributed to the unit from there.

"Fairy tales come, and then pour out"

I'm going to the assembly point on the Fontanka embankment in St. Petersburg. It is not possible to chat with conscripts or contractors who are prepared for sending. Part occupies a rather large territory, and those who came with documents and things are immediately taken away. The rest who came simply to ask, “abode” employees of the military enlistment office.

- How old? Where is it registered? Is there rights to "C"? Are there any sports categories?

The questions are pouring so quickly that I barely have time to answer. Hearing that I have the title of candidate for master of sports in sports tourism and the first category of Biathlon, an employee of the military enlistment office is reviving.

- In what category of Tourism of the CCM?

- Ski. But I have a confirmed first category on the mountain.

The military commissariats skeptically looks around my rather dense figure, grunts, throws: “Wait a second,” and hides behind a glass bulkhead, where the duty officer sits.

Returns with a rope: "Tie a knot." I take the rope and tying the main safety hub "Bun". The interlocutor is blurring in a smile.

- Well done, I see that you are not lying. Another “straight” or “reef” would have tied, and you are immediately “conversational” ( another name “Bulin” - approx. Ed. ). Fairy tales often come to us here. They will pester everyone, and at the first check they are pouring. Well, what did you want to know?

I answer that I would like to go, but I have not yet decided in what capacity: either in the "personalized" units, or for a short -term contract. I say that I would not want to lose.

- Well, if you have a biathlon discharge, then you are a direct path to a short -term one. They will be sent to Belgorod, they will check, they will be given a rifle and distribute. By the way, you can get into the same name battalion. Snipers are needed everywhere.

- I heard that we need to buy weapons yourself ...

- Everything that is required on the staffing table will be given out for free. We are a regular army, not private. But there, indeed, you can get a trophy weapon or buy. Well, this has always been. Remember, like a Terkin, "We will wave without looking ..."? And here you can also wave. If there is nothing to exchange, you can buy. Someone wants to fight with a machine gun, and someone instead of the SVD ( Degtyarev’s sniper rifle - approx. Ed. ) “Rintorese” ( VSS-Sniper rifle, almost silent- approx. Ed. ) Or in general, give something imported. You have to buy this.

- And what are the prices?

“But I can say that it’s acceptable.” Moreover, it is difficult to take trophies, and therefore, leaving, they sell everything. Although some people manage to grab the trophy.

- And what documents?

- Four photos of 3x4 and one 9x12, free autobiography, three copies of passports, three copies of a military man, a copy of SNILS, a copy of the TIN, details of the Mir card in duplicate. The card can be any bank, but the “world” is necessarily. Inquiries from a psychiatric hospital, tuberculosis and narcological dispensaries. Well, things for the first time, until you get uniform.

- So I will collect these certificates for a week! Do you know what queues we have in these dispensers?

“There are no queues for us,” a man of about 40 slightly dented appearance enters into conversation. - One day I did all the certificates and the next day I had already left. Just ask the military commissar to call the doctors, and there everything is out of line.

- That is, you have already worked out one contract?

- Yes. So I came to the second to get out. But I am not in personal battalions, I have nothing to do there. I am immediately "for the tape."

“So he will tell you everything about prices and about earnings,” the employee of the military enlistment office again enters into the conversation. “You wait for him on the street, he will come out soon.”

The main deficit - stripes and cash

The man came out five minutes later. The name is Dima, from Vyborg.

- Well, what to tell you? With the monetary content of no deception. Prizes for achievements are paid, but this is different in different parts. You can earn on trophies. Yes, it is better to see and hear everything in place, it will be more clear. And I'm in a hurry.

I am ready to wait, and then treat it with beer. Dima revives, but with a degree of doubt: they do not sell (in St. Petersburg, a restriction on the sale of alcohol from 22:00 to 11:00, and at half -past six in the morning). I inform you that a round -the -clock store is working nearby, to which time restrictions do not apply. My new acquaintance comes to life even stronger and says that he will try to finish the affairs of the military enlistment office in ten minutes.

I managed in seven minutes, and we went to the store. Dima drank the first bottle of beer in one gulp. Under the second, he began to talk about his experience in making money in Ukraine.

- I was in the motorized rifle under the stove. He came to the unit after the attack on Kyiv was stopped, so for the most part it was quiet. Although drones and saboteurs bothered. The easiest way to earn on trophy weapons. But there is no single price tag. Many factors affect prices. In those parts that are going to display for regrouping to Russia, pistols and automatic machines at a high price go. It is difficult to take out the same pistol solely, and if, along with the technique, then there is a lot of a lot. Well, in Russia, weapons are already sold an order of magnitude higher. For example, PM ( Makarov Pistol - approx. Ed. ) There can cost a piece of rubles, and here there is already a piece of bucks. In general, manual weapons are very appreciated. Like grenades, TNT. Lightened armored vehicles at a high price. Western weapons are not particularly how you get. There are connoisseurs who lay out a good amount, but not a lot: where can you get cartridges for them? It is more profitable to receive the authorities and receive a prize.

The largest deficit is stripes with the symbols of the Armed Forces of Ukraine or the National Guard of Ukraine. Some people manage to do them in Russia and then take them “for the ribbon”. But it is dangerous, they will catch, they can have a criminal. Why stripes? The camouflage is mostly the same, only with stripes and differs. You find a civilian corpse, dress in a jacket with a patch of the National Guard or the Armed Forces and present it to the authorities: they say that the saboteur was eliminated. The prize is provided.

We had such a case, I don’t know, however or a bike, but I personally believe in it. The guys from the neighboring part stumbled upon an abandoned armored personnel carrier with Ukrainian symbols. They shot him from a machine gun, threw a couple of corpses, took a picture and sent him to the authorities. At night, the same armored personnel carrier was dragged a couple of kilometers to the side, already to another part. They adjusted the on -board number with paint, shot a little more - and also pictures of the authorities. And so this armored personnel carrier was dragged five times from place to place until he fell apart at all.

Private military companies have a solid dachshund for each gained equipment. So they find some kind of SUV broken, cut a roof from it, weld the pipe, and install a machine gun on it. Then they shoot, again a couple of corpses are thrown and presented as destroyed equipment. Where do the corpses get? Well, you're like little. After the artillery, here and there they meet. Dress the civilian into camouflage, skirts, a machine gun or a pistol nearby - and here you have a fighter. For such productions, additional weapons are usually used. If there are no finished corpses, so you can cook ...

But personally, I did not do this. And the regulators, as far as I know, too. Still, we are not animals. And Khokhlov did not rob, it is dangerous. If the "Chekists"* They catch it, it will not seem enough. But I can say that in addition to the main earnings, I have earned an additional one and a half years. Could more, but our part was not taken to Russia.

And the cash is also very appreciated. Between your translations, but with the locals only for the Nalik. What are we buying? Yes, anything: from moonshine to machine guns and pistols. But here, again, you need to look at the conjuncture. More often you can buy your cheaper. But cash is still valued. The usual course is the ruble for one and a half. Well, you translate one and a half thousand, and they give you a thing in cash. But I heard, there is a ruble for two or even two and a half. There are many factors here. In general, it is quite possible to make money there even more than that they promise. And what they promise is paid on time. There are, of course, dissatisfied, but this is already from great greed. So if you are not a fraer, then no one will destroy you.

* So the troops call employees of the Main Military-Political Administration of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, formed by decree of the President of Russia in June 2018.