Russian soldiers resort to looting amid supply shortages

The ongoing war in Ukraine has repeatedly highlighted the corruption within the Russian army. This time, a video has surfaced in the media showing several Russian soldiers discussing the looting they committed during the fighting. Many experts compare this behaviour to that seen during the Chechen War era.

The war in Ukraine has been ongoing for over two years now, and it seems it will continue for a while longer. This sentiment is recognized not only by geostrategists and politicians but also by the soldiers, many of whom have served in the conflict since its inception.

This is corroborated by numerous videos of soldier conversations, clearly indicating a reluctance to continue fighting. Among them, particularly striking, is one from the Russian army in which soldiers explicitly discuss another year they expect to spend on the battlefield.

In this short recording, one sentence stands out: a soldier says he especially does not want to be in Ukraine when winter comes. He recalls that the problem with clothing supplies in the Russian army is significant.

Much like in ancient times, Russian soldiers are looting civilian homes to address these shortages. This is yet another instance of this form of warfare appearing online. The difference, however, is that soldiers targeted valuables at the beginning of the conflict, whereas today, they seek essential goods.

Many observers of the Russian army's actions note that this is not the first time such incidents have occurred. These were often visible during the Russian-Chechen conflict when Russians plundered civilian homes.

Just like back then, today, the captured towns and villages are treated as war trophies, where everything belongs to the army. And so, for many years, many Russian homes contain clothes, toys, or equipment reminiscent of Russian war crimes and atrocities.