On a corner of the Moscow sidewalk, two men chat happily, patting each other on the back. A small and a large, a leather jacket and a sports jacket. Ten minutes ago, they didn’t know each other; soon they will leave together for the Ukrainian front. “We are like that, in our country, warmlaughs Andrei, the little one. And then the proverb says it well, misery unites. »
In ten minutes, in front of the iron door of the recruitment office on Petchatnikov Street, the two had time to find a whole series of points in common: both are in their forties, have a large family, and are addicted to cigarettes. And both work in ventilation: Andrei runs a small business, fourteen employees; Anatoly, the tall one, is a technician. Above all, both are patriots, supporters of the “special operation” launched by Vladimir Putin in Ukraine. They will go to fight with a clear conscience, if not with a completely light heart.
“I’d rather it be me than my kids in a few yearsexplains Anatoly, 47, who received his summons the day before, Wednesday, September 21. I didn’t jump for joy, of course, but what should I do? Opposite, there are 200,000 Ukrainian soldiers, Arab and French mercenaries… Someone has to go there, despite the fear, despite our women who would like to hold us back. You, you will be cold this winter because of that stupid Biden… To each his own. »
Close speech for Andreï, 41 years old. The war, since it is really about it, has been “imposed on Russia by an aggressive West that is too benevolent towards Nazism”. “A lot of people run away from their responsibilities, leave the country, so someone has to go, even us. »
“If television is lying, we will find out soon enough…”
” Even U.S “, because the other common point of Andrei and Anatoly is that they don’t have the slightest combat experience. Both completed their military service more than two decades ago, in peacetime, and since then they have not seen the barrel of a Kalashnikov.
The day before, Vladimir Putin and his defense minister, Sergei Shoigu, nevertheless assured that the mobilization concerned “in priority” men with combat experience or members of the active reserve, but also younger. “It’s not up to us to question their decisions”, plead Andrei and Anatoly, who will be enlisted as privates. Do they think, at least, that the army will be up to their determination? “The soldiers that we see on television are well equipped, said Andrei. Afterwards, if the television is lying, we will find out soon enough… ”
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