Russians enlisting in the war in Ukraine 'should buy their own helmets and bulletproof vests'

Vladimir Putin's Invading Russian Army Conscripts Should Spend Thousands on Equipment Checklist Before Enlisting - and then risk being stolen by veterans, according to claims< /p> Russian conscripts are told to purchase a checklist of equipment, including helmets and body armor (

Image: AFP via Getty Images

Russian conscripts should provide their own war gear, including specialized helmets and body armor.

Last month, President Vladimir Putin began mobilizing civilian recruits to aid him in his stuttering invasion of Ukraine in which an estimated 500 Moscow troops are killed or injured a day.

And new soldiers – many of whom are desperately trying to dodge conscription – are ordered to provide their own equipment and then foot the bill, it has been claimed.

A checklist reportedly sent to Army personnel during registration includes many items used for a camping trip, including a torch, spare batteries, and a mug.

A rough translation sees the list even described as "minimum equipment required for military business travel".

But it also specifies an "armoured helmet (ATLAS, OMNITEC, 6647)" and a "bulletproof vest".

Were you drafted into the Russian army? Let us know at webnews@mirror.co.uk

New recruits face a black market of rising prices on eBay in Russia (

Picture:

Twitter)

Due to thousands of conscripts attempting to purchase the items at once, this opened the door to a lucrative black market.

Author and military history researcher Chris Owen - who shared the list on Twitter - said: "If anyone is wondering where civilians get body armor, tactical gear and helmets, a large part is sold on Avito (Russian eBay).

"It's not just military surplus, it's often current equipment that is resold by corrupt military logistics personnel who have stolen it from army depots."