In addition to the loss of soldiers during battles, the Russian army has significant losses due to a very large number of incidents, most of which are due to the abuse of vodka.

Alcohol consumption among Vladimir Putin’s military personnel is widespread, which can be explained both by the fact that it is a general phenomenon in Russian society and by the traumatic situation in which soldiers are at the front.

Russian army, heavy losses due to alcohol consumption

This phenomenon is highlighted by the British Ministry of Defense in an assessment published on Sunday morning:

Although Russia has suffered up to 200,000 casualties since the start of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, a significant minority of these were from non-combat causes.

On March 27, 2023, Russian news channel Telegram reported that there had been an “extremely high” number of alcohol-related incidents, killings, and deaths among deployed Russian troops.

Other major causes of non-combat casualties likely include poor weapons training, traffic accidents and injuries caused by climatic conditions such as hypothermia.

Russian commanders likely perceive widespread alcohol abuse as particularly detrimental to combat effectiveness.

However, although excessive alcohol consumption is widespread in much of Russian society, it has long been considered a tacitly accepted part of military life, even during combat.

“I’ll come back and tell you why we drink”

The interception of a phone conversation of a Russian soldier who sat drunk in the dark of his shelter, waiting for the start of Ukrainian artillery strikes, shows that this phenomenon is widespread, according to the Associated Press.

• Wife: “Why? Why do you drink?”.
• Maxim: “We have everyone like that. You can’t do without booze here”
• Wife: “How the hell are you going to defend yourself if you’re a fanatic?”
• Maxim: “Absolutely normal. On the contrary, it is easier to shoot… civilians. Let’s not talk about it. I will come back and tell you how it is here and why we drink!”

In some occupied regions of Ukraine, the sale of vodka was banned

According to a Daily Beast article, information about the effects of vodka and liquor use among the invasion troops has been coming to light since last year.

In July, the General Staff of Ukraine said that the Russian military was consuming so much alcohol that they were prohibited from buying booze in some areas of the partially occupied territories.

Vladimir Putin’s soldiers get so drunk that they end up with disciplinary violations and serious incidents.

It is noted that the Russian military’s habit of abusing alcohol has caused accidents with combat vehicles, violations of the rules for the use of firearms and other incidents involving drunken soldiers.

(article photo: ©Zim235|Dreamstime.com)