Russian Army will get $1.2M DIY carts as a substitute of fight buggies

A rising scandal has erupted in Russia surrounding Kremlin tv host and chief propagandist Vladimir Solovyov, after accusations surfaced that his basis misused hundreds of thousands of rubles collected beneath the pretext of serving to Russian troops.

According to pro-war blogger Pozdnyakov, Solovyov’s SVR private basis collected over 100 million rubles ($1.2 million) from Russian residents, supposedly to produce the navy with fight tools. Instead, Pozdnyakov claims, a lot of the cash remained within the basis’s accounts, whereas the rest was spent on what he referred to as “nugatory junk” — selfmade buggies described as unsafe and fully unfit for fight.

“The so-called fight buggies turned out to be incapable of battlefield use,” Pozdnyakov mentioned, publishing images that shortly unfold throughout Russian social media. The photos present crudely welded metallic frames — some with out steering wheels or seats — fitted with automotive tires and primary handlebars. The autos seem extra like improvised backyard carts powered by small engines than military-grade transports.

According to Pozdnyakov, Russian troops refused to make use of the autos, citing their lack of safety, low velocity, and poor structural sturdiness. “These machines are extra harmful to the driving force than to the enemy,” he mentioned, noting that the designs provided no armor and couldn’t stand up to even small-arms hearth.

The scandal has additionally drawn consideration to how Kremlin-linked media figures have used patriotic fundraising campaigns to reinforce their public picture whereas avoiding accountability for the place donations really go. Solovyov’s basis described the autos as “buggy-carts” in an official assertion asserting their handover to the navy, portraying them as an “revolutionary answer for front-line mobility.”

However, the response amongst Russian pro-war bloggers — normally supportive of state media figures — was harsh. Many described the undertaking as a humiliation and accused Solovyov of exploiting patriotic sentiment for revenue.

Analysts be aware that Solovyov, one of the crucial seen faces of Russian propaganda, has usually portrayed himself as a tireless supporter of Russia’s battle effort. His televised packages frequently function aggressive rhetoric towards Ukraine and the West, together with requires expanded navy motion.

The controversy surrounding his basis’s spending has fueled rising inside criticism of corruption throughout the patriotic motion and its ties to Kremlin media. Photos of the rusting “fight buggies,” left open air and unused, have grow to be a viral image of what critics describe as “performative patriotism” — pricey propaganda initiatives with little or no actual profit for Russian troops.

Neither Solovyov nor his basis has publicly addressed the precise accusations of embezzlement. Russian state media have to date prevented reporting on the difficulty, whereas discussions proceed to unfold throughout Telegram and different pro-war social media channels.