Soldiers mobilised in Russia to fight Ukraine have been equipped with plastic paintball masks, children’s gloves and rubber boots.
In a video posted from the Stavropol region in southern Russia, one soldier struggles to hide his disgust at the kit the local administration has provided him with.
Demand for military and outdoor kit has soared so much that body armour in Russia now costs around £1,115, a rucksack costs up to £560 and decent thermal underwear more than £300, according to reports.
The video, which has emerged online, is the latest evidence of how disorderly the mobilisation process in Russia has been since it was ordered by Vladimir Putin on September 21.
In the footage, the soldier picks up a plastic paintball mask and says: "Thank you for these warm gifts for mobilised fighters.
“They think we will be wandering around like Star Wars wearing this bulls—, with no aim and no goal.”
The soldier is also critical of a "fashionable" hat and a one-litre thermos, but saves his strongest ire for some child-sized gloves.
"They won’t fit my hand and they didn’t fit a single fighter," he continues.
He then inspects some rubber boots, which he says he will "throw away" because they are such low quality.
"They sincerely prepared us for winter," the fighter adds sarcastically.
Newly conscripted Russian men have been sent to the frontlines with only a few days’ training in the last few weeks.
And some have complained they have had to buy their own food and equipment.
In the video, a distressed woman from the Kursk region of Russia, says: "The guys are abandoned in the forest without ammunition, without food or water and are being fired at, wounded and killed.
"Who are we to turn to? The president? The government? Help us. Return our children to us."
Vladimir Putin has recently deflected criticism back onto the ministry of defence and regional administrations for any mistakes and issues.
