Russia’s VTB Bank sends out letter offering to buy combat gear for their employees if they are drafted

Russia’s VTB Bank has sent out a letter to its employees offering to purchase combat gear for them should any of them be drafted, one of the bank employees told Novaya Gazeta Europe.

The letter says that employees who are being drafted within the “partial mobilisation” can now apply for combat gear packages on the bank’s intranet.

The list of goods that the company offers to purchase for its employees includes basic necessities, such as: first aid kits, tourniquets, batteries, food kits, compasses, sleeping bags, and backpacks.

The bank also offers to purchase items available in different sizes, including warm socks (3 pairs), thermal clothing (2 sets), tactical gloves (1 pair), a winter balaclava with a collar (1 piece), insulated rubber boots (1 pair), an insulated bodysuit (1 set).

Employees can apply for specific items or for all items at once.

After mobilisation was announced in Russia, VTB Bank sent out letters offering draft-eligible men to apply for an exemption as an employee of the company.

“Certain categories of citizens are not eligible for military service within the partial mobilisation, including citizens working in organisations that ensure the stability of the national payment system,” the letter said.

Russian draftees have reported a lack of basic equipment and gear numerous times. Several days ago, Mediazona told the story of Russia’s 2nd Guards Tamanskaya Motor Rifle Division. Their families were told to purchase combat gear for the draftees, while the conscripts themselves were sent to the front line with no training, no necessary weapons and no command.

Earlier, mobilised men from Russia’s Tatarstan recorded a video address, in which they said that their wives were being told to donate money for their gear.

“Our wives work in kindergartens, schools; they’re being made to donate money in a voluntary-compulsory way. We don’t need this kind of money,” the men said in the video.

It was reported earlier that Timur Izmailov, an IT specialist who worked at Raiffeisenbank in Moscow, was drafted into the army despite having a draft exemption. He was killed in the combat zone.

“Timur was an employee of Raiffeisenbank. He was a key IT specialist who worked with the Mir [payment] system. He was drafted on 23 September and was sent to the combat zone as early as 5 October!” attorney Konstantin Erokhin wrote.

He noted that the Bank of Russia had submitted the lists of specialists who should be exempt from the draft to the General Staff back on 28 September. However, these documents still have not reached the draft board.