(MOSCOW) – Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine are contradicting Kremlin propaganda, complaining of poor equipment, missing supplies, problems with pay, and a lack of proper rotation, according to a report by TVP World’s “Break the Fake” programme.
The programme, presented by Sally Jastrzębska, examined the growing gap between Russian state media narratives and the reality faced by troops on the ground.
Margarita Simonyan, the Kremlin’s chief propagandist, announced live on Russian television that Russian forces are advancing on the front lines and that another wave of mobilisation is unnecessary. She claimed state television correspondents witness these achievements daily. However, the footage tells a different story.
One volunteer from Russia’s Krasnodar region, identified as Coin Traa, went to fight in the Zaporizhzhia sector for contract money. He now complains that he must spend much of that money just to survive. Instead of the generous supplies promised, he says the Russian Ministry of Defence gives them equipment so bad they can barely make it to the front line.
Soldiers from the 22nd Separate Special Forces Brigade report no proper rotations, problems with pay, and terrible treatment from their commanders. According to the report, their commanders have made their position clear: as far as the Kremlin is concerned, they are no different from prisoners. Their job is simply to take the money and be sent to the front regardless of the risks.
The contrast between Simonyan’s claims of smooth progress and the complaints from Russian troops reveals a different picture of the Kremlin’s war machine. While state media outlets talk about steady advances, soldiers on the ground say they are buying their own body armour and struggling with poor supplies and a lack of support. They signed up to fight for money but instead found themselves paying out of their own pockets just to survive.
In Moscow, the Kremlin’s propaganda machine is moving beyond temporary banners. Russia’s war against Ukraine is now being commemorated in granite and bronze. The Russian dictator Vladimir Putin personally attended the opening of the new General Karabishev Boulevard Metro Station. The station features images of modern Russian soldiers, military equipment, and combat drones, placed alongside symbols of the Second World War.
Even the designer benches in the lobby resemble wooden coffins. For millions of Moscow residents, the message is now built into their daily commute. The aim appears to be to make the war feel as normal and familiar as the morning rush hour. The transformation of the Moscow Metro paints a bleak picture of Russia’s future, offering a growing cult of war and death rather than looking ahead. History teaches that the monuments of dictatorships are often the first things to be torn down once the regime collapses.
Meanwhile, Russians fearing another wave of mobilisation are frantically packing their bags. Armenia is traditionally the main destination, as it remains possible to flee there with just a Russian internal passport. Armenian landlords, remembering what happened in the autumn of 2022, were quick to react. Many property owners in Yerevan have already raised their prices, with some rents nearly doubling.
One typical two-bedroom apartment went from around $640 (approximately £505) a month to more than $1,100 (approximately £870). Human rights activists warn that Armenia may not be a safe option for Russians facing criminal charges fabricated by the authorities back home. Systems for tracking fugitives across the CIS are still in place, and political motives may not offer much protection for ordinary Russians trying to avoid being sent to the front. However, Armenia remains one of the easiest and fastest ways out.
The latest surge in housing prices in Yerevan reveals how much Russians really believe in victory and support the regime. As soon as the threat of another mobilisation appears, patriotic bravado quickly disappears, and the only strategic goal becomes buying a one-way ticket. Armenian landlords appear to have understood one basic rule of the Putin era: fear of being sent to war can be very profitable.
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