The soldier of a mechanized battalion of the 1st AFU tank brigade spoke about drug addiction, heavy drinking, beatings, poor logistics in the Ukrainian army, the coronavirus, foreign military, and what the Armed Forces of Ukraine military actually think about the nationalists and Zelensky, the press office of the DPR People’s Militia reports.
Name, date of birth, place of residence
My name is Valery M. Taranenko, born July 27, 1973, I live in the Poltava Region, Kozachensky district, the village of Velikovka.
Where do you serve?
I used to serve in the 1st tank brigade as a BMP-1 driver and mechanic, was assigned to the 28th separate mechanized brigade, tank battalion, 3rd company, 1st platoon, since they lack personnel. In 2015, despite the fact that I had an illness (uracrasia), they took me during the 6h stage of the mobilization to the 30th brigade
For what reason did you decide to sign the contract again in November 2020 to serve in the AFU?
I signed the contract because there were no jobs due to the coronavirus in Ukraine, they promised certain amount of wages, but paid out the different. They did not pay out a lot: sign-on bonuses, health payouts, nobody ever paid out for the crew in full. They said that they would pay out in late February, but it was unknown which year. We called to the finance department, they said there were no money and told us to wait.
For what reason did you decide to leave you unit?
I had bad relationship both with soldiers and commanders, they like only those who fawn, if you do not fawn you are nobody for them. Soldiers in my platoon drank themselves blind, then they could hide somewhere, I do not know why, maybe they smoked weed. But they were in a delusional condition. That happened often to them. I decided to come over to your side, because on January 28 in the evening I was beaten up by another mechanic in the kitchen at the position in front of the company chief mechanic because of the broken BMP. The fan in the heating system broke, they blamed me for everything. They were beating me with their fists and boots. First, they stood and watched, when he began to beat me harder and harder they grabbed me. He even wanted to shoot me to death, then the company chief mechanic at once took away his assault rifle. Then Vlad Ukrainsky was shouting that he was going to kill me, telling them to give him the gun. I said “take it, shoot”. They did not let him do it.
What is the battalion commander’s attitude to the beatings, excessive drinking, drug addiction in the unit?
I do not know the battalion commander’s name, I do not care, so never asked. I know he is a major, a really big man, who loves getting drunk.
If anyone needed to solve any problem concerning the service, he would deal with it for a case of vodka or cognac. He would do that with pleasure.
Do you comply with the ceasefire?
Reconnaissance men could arrive at any time and start shooting in front of our positions. Then they get away.
How often do they use drugs and drink alcohol in your unit?
Soldiers are often non-sane, drunken at our position. They go to the village, buy vodka and get drunk. They can get drunk at watch as well. They drink and smoke. I do not know what they smoke.
Are there anti-coronavirus activities conducted in the AFU?
There is no immunization against the coronavirus. Nobody gives any masks. There are no sickbays, if a soldier or more get ill, they settle them in a separate trench shelter and keep them in there, so they must stay.
How to get food to them? There are no protective suits. A healthy person may get ill if a person with the coronavirus even realizes air on you. There must be protective suits for that, which we do not have anywhere. They are telling lies on TV only. They tell that the vaccine will be produced in Ukraine. But when?
What do you think about the quality of the logistics support in the AFU?
Canned meat and tinned foods are not very good. You can find everything there, not only meat: veins, skin with fur. In 2015 I got canned meat with fur.
It is impossible to eat combined fats from that canned meat even if it is cooked. You get a strong stomachache after that. The clothes support is also bad. Many did not get winter wear. There are no sleeping-bags as well. They did not have enough boots to distribute among the soldiers. We were unprepared for winter. We had to buy at our own cost and expense. You get wages, then order online, then get your clothes, boots or anything you lack through Novaya Pochta. The same situation is with the vehicle — if it broke, you fix it for your own money. Nobody gives anything.
Have you ever seen foreign military, instructors, mercenaries?
About two weeks ago some foreigners arrived, I do not know who they were. They talked to the battalion commander, then walked along the positions, watching out for something. I do not know what they were watching out. They were supposed to visit us, but they did not. I am not certain about their nationality, they could be Americans or Turks. I cannot say clearer.
What do you think about Azov and other nationalist forces?
It is former law enforcers that serve in such units as Azov, the National Guard etc. These units are not very good. They incriminate military from other brigades. They could go to any brigade with off-roaders and mortars, attack hostile positions, then go away. They have been looting since the war began. They plundered in villages and towns, took away jewelry, money, cars, which they drove then crashed at positions. Because they did not care. It is these units that I call plunderers.
What do you think about Zelensky and the current government?
Everyone believed his words and promises that he would end the war once he took the power, that no one would go to war, that everyone would stay at home healthy and alive, that there would be jobs. These were just beautiful tales. Everyone is laughing at the clown in government. They just pull the strings, make up scenarios for him, which he follows then. Of course, times were better under Yanukovich. A dollar equaled eight UAH, it did not get higher, salaries were fine, everyone could find a job.
How is morale with the military in the unit? Are many of them ready to engage in active combat operations?
The majority stay only for money, there were no jobs because of this coronavirus, this quarantine. That is why they signed the contract. This war is not ours. This war is waged by the power in Kiev. They have been laundering money through this war since 2014, as well as through the coronavirus. Everyone realizes that the real separatists are there.
Recall that Anatoly Taranenko had addressed the DPR People’s Militia for help and thereafter successfully crossed into the Republic territory on January 28.
