Notes from Russia's Rear: Part II
More stories from Russians as they try to survive their society's collapse
(Originally published October 25, 2022)
Humanity head-butted the soul of the on-air editor-in-chief for Russia Today (RT), Margarita Simonyan, last weekend. One of her journalists, a vile loser named Anton Krasovsky, went on a genocidal tirade that upset the notorious Kremlin propagandist and many Russians.
Thrilled to hear his own voice, Krasovsky called for Ukrainian children to be drowned in rivers, or, better yet, his eyes lighting up like he had come up with a fun prank to play on his sleeping dad, “lock them in their cabin-like homes (khata) and burn them alive.”
Golly. Good, clean fun over at RT, right?
Well, maybe not. Simonyan was disgusted by the display of genocidal horror, and rightly so. She has suspended Krasovsky, and an internal investigation and a government one have been launched.
Simonyan has, in recent weeks, quite insincerely talked about how people are getting too caught up in the rhetoric of this moment — rhetoric her channel happily peddles like umbrellas in Hong Kong during the rainy season.
In a statement on RT’s website, Simonyan said: “For the children of Ukraine, as well as the children of Donbas, and all other children, I wish that all this ends as soon as possible, and they can live and study in peace again — in the language they consider native (TV Presenter Faces Probe).”
Even in this comment from Ms. Simonyan, she is pushing the lies of the Putin regime. “In the language they consider native” speaks to the lie that Russian-speaking Ukrainians were denied the right to speak Russian. This is an outright lie, as roughly 1/3 of Ukraine still speaks Russian, and some say it is higher.
Time to defend the motherland
A neighbor from a communal apartment in which my wife grew up in St. Petersburg, Russia, recently shared thoughts with my wife about the situation in the country. In one post, she commented almost giddily about how she was preparing her husband to go to the front to save the country.
“I never imagined,” she wrote on WhatsApp, “that the sheets I made for our children would one day be used by their father for his army boots.” This woman, Anastasia (Nastya, for short), was making “portyanki.” This is material wrapped around the foot before it is put into the army boot. It would seem that the modern Russian army is ordering “one-size fits all” boots — if they are too big, use these “portyanki.” They also keep the feet warm.
Maybe it’s the shock of knowing that her husband, her love, and the father of her children could be killed or returned maimed that has her gushing with praise for the current situation. Nastya goes on to praise the support from the military authorities at the base where he husband is “training.”
As for the training, she mentions that not much is being done, but the “guys are so motivated to protect their country and their families” that they are creating training exercises themselves.”
Civilians, with little or no military experience, maybe just some “Call of Duty” experience if they are lucky, are being sent to the front of a modern war prepared by what they think will help them. I am sure Nastya is not just in shock but likely taking sedatives.
This is one of the receipts that Nastya shared with my wife. It has three items: protective goggles, a multi-pocket vest used by Russia’s vile OMON police, fleece fabric which will be used to keep her husband warm, and a plastic bag for $.50 with the army logo from the store —they couldn’t have tossed the bag in for free?! Not seen here is a thermal sleeping bag she bought for her husband (5000 rubles).
The out-of-pocket cost for the items we see here for this family is roughly $400 (13,325 + 5000 = 18,325). You can see the make of the car they own, Toyota.
This family is middle class. 18,325 rubles is a quarterly salary for Russians outside of the big cities. This means that many of the men going off to a winter front will be freezing in very short order. Yet, recently, when we saw Putin shooting rounds from a sniper rifle, the soldiers he saw were supplied with everything they would need to “defend” Russia.
Nastya’s final words to my wife in that message were: “With such amazing guys going off to defend us from the fascists, you know the country will be safe.” She is doing everything she can to link this moment to the one everyone has heard told them repeatedly for 80 years. This is their moment to shine and save Russia.
Russians are coming to terms with their war. It wasn’t supposed to touch their lives, but it is. This is what happens to countries when dealing with fascist and corrupt leaders who rely on the ignorance of their people and hate. This is what happens when the truth is replaced with the opinions and fantasies of a lunatic — this is what could very well happen to the U.S. this November.
It’s very interesting to read that 18,325 rubles was $400 ten months ago, and it’s well under $200 today. That’s big time inflation (nominally 54% over ten months, or 65% annualized!), and will make domestic life more unbearable than it has been at its worst since the 1990’s. Although Putin stockpiled western currency before the invasion 18 months ago, It seems unlikely that his inventory of dollars, gold, diamonds and precious works of art will hold out forever. Putin has way more than 99 serious problems, and the only way he can possibly sleep at night is though the administration of either alcohol, pharmaceuticals, herbal sleeping remedies (the favorite of this old stoner) or something stronger. There’s no way that monster sleeps without medication.
I’m becoming obsessed with your writings about Russia