Civilian reservists forced to join Vladimir ‘s war machine are being issued with rusty worn-out old Kalashnikovs as weapons, a new video shows.
The recruits expressed dismay in a volley of swearwords after a tank crew were provided with long-discarded weapons from a military store in Primonsky region in the far east of Russia.
‘It’s the tank boys who were given this c*** [rusty Kalashnikovs],’ says one voice as the men are given their war kit.
‘They said: “You’ve got tanks, so don’t give a **** about the Kalashnikovs”.’
Russian tank crews were given weapons that looked decades old to take to war
The tank crew were provided with long-discarded weapons from a military store in Primonsky
Online sleuths identified the weapon as an AKM, a gas operated assault rifle introduced by the Soviets in 1959 as a replacement for the AK-47. It was officially replaced in Soviet frontline service in the late 1970s
One man said of the worn and rusty guns: ‘These are the machine guns we’re getting.
‘F***** up, ar-15 rifles I’m f****** up….I won’t comment on anything…. I’m shocked.’
They were told that, since they were part of a tank crew, the rusty weapons would be good enough.
Online sleuths identified the weapon as an AKM, a gas operated assault rifle introduced by the Soviets in 1959 as a replacement for the AK-47.
The AKM is lighter and cheaper to produce than the AK-47. It was officially replaced in Soviet frontline service in the late 1970s.
‘There are WW2 re-enactors who have better equipment,’ said Twitter user Magnus Canis.
‘Are these the “real troops” Russia has been holding back?’ asked another user.
‘Czar Nicholas is proud of his army,’ joked a third.
A separate video close to the Ukrainian border shows ‘aged’ military trucks being transported for use by Russia’s newly mobilised reservists.
The recent videos underline increased Russian equipment problems, suggesting the military is digging through old Soviet equipment to use in its war against Ukraine.
Rusted military trucks were shown being transported for use by Russia’s newly mobilised reservists, suggesting that Russia is digging through old Soviet equipment to use in the war