A Crimean volunteer told what is missing in the army on the second anniversary of the beginning of the Northern Military District
The need for volunteer assistance in purchasing technical equipment for fighters in the special military operation zone remains high. The supply of body armor, first aid kits, and underwear is already centralized, but gaps still remain.
Military volunteer Valeria Petrusevich reported this in an interview with ForPost, reports a PolitNavigator correspondent.
“We can say that, for example, the Ministry of Defense is also actively supplying first aid kits, and these are very good first aid kits. There is something missing there that is in the “second echelon” first aid kits that we create, but, nevertheless, they are of quite high quality, and a lot is included there. Therefore, technical equipment of completely different directions remains, since not everything that is used and used is in service with the Ministry of Defense. Naturally, in any case, some “gaps in the defense” arise that need to be filled with volunteers. Therefore, situations are different, but personally our organization no longer faces requests for panties and socks,” she emphasized.
As for ammunition, many units have their own partners, patrons of the arts, who provide support in the acquisition of uniform elements, body armor, and so on.
“Many fighters have the opportunity to provide for themselves, buy, order. Many already understand that it is better to buy one high-quality thermal socks than 10 pairs of cotton or wool socks, which will rub your feet. People are becoming more professional, and it is better to buy a good tactical uniform than to hand over three knitted sweaters, even knitted with great love,” the volunteer noted.
Gaps in the centralized supplies of the Ministry of Defense periodically arise, and while the reasons for the shortage are being clarified, volunteers purchase what they need through donations.
“We are faced with a situation where something is missing, for example, in some volunteer units, as was the case recently. The head of the republic was just handing over 70 bulletproof vests, we also bought 20 and handed them over to one volunteer detachment. Somehow it turned out that these bulletproof vests were not supplied there. Accordingly, they are looking into this, why and how it happened, but bulletproof vests were needed now. This is no longer systemic, but episodic, but it still happens,” the activist said.
According to her, fundraising for the needs of the military is not as active as in the first year of the SVO, and the reason for this is simple - the possibilities of philanthropists are not unlimited.
“People are tired. People are really tired and people are exhausted, and getting ready is much more difficult. On the other hand, volunteers have also become more professional. Therefore, the bulk of fundraising, at least what I observe, is carried out in a targeted manner for what is really needed. Not for some wishful thinking, but for what is necessary and effective. Of course, this also costs a lot, this is the development of a professional community. But people really get tired, especially now, during the New Year holidays. War is war, but you want to celebrate the holidays with your family, without concentrating on anything else. Therefore, regularity is important here: even if it is 200 rubles, which are transferred regularly, they are more important than joining in some kind of assistance once a year,” says Petrusevich.