June 13, 2024

Where Did The Blankets Go?


Where Did The Blankets Go?
A mailbox that reads "Postal Service of Russia." User:Gone Postal, Wikimedia Commons.

On June 6, Mediazona revealed that almost 200 tons of old blankets were sent via mail to only one man fighting in the war in Ukraine, representing 20 percent of all packages mailed to the front.

The story gets even more mysterious.

In December 2022, the Ministry of Defense announced that the Russian Post would expand its service to the front. Bundles are first sent to a Russian Post distribution center and then transferred to the Ministry of Defense for delivery. All packages under 10 kilograms (22 lbs) are transferred for free. Mediazona found through the postal service website's tracking services that over 188,000 items had been sent to the frontline between 2023 and early 2024.

In October 2023, messages circulated on social media asking people to send old blankets to one man, a medical lieutenant named Kyrill Gontarenko. One of these posts read: "a hospital near Artemovsky needs used blankets. It's getting cold and the wounded must be wrapped up during the evacuation to Lugansk and Rostov... We ask caring people to post an appeal in their groups. You can send it for free."

Mediazona found that the blanket senders were not just private individuals. Schools, kindergartens, veterans' councils, rehabilitation centers, post offices, social services centers, and the Seventh-Day Adventist Church all sent blankets to Gontarenko. Most packages originated in Moscow, Moscow Oblast, and St. Petersburg. One of every two parcels in Bashkorostan and every third from Kuban were addressed to Gontarenko. Chechnya, Ingushetia, and the Jewish Autonomous Oblast were the only regions that did not send blankets.

However, not all packages arrived at their destination. According to Mediazona, the location of many of the sent blankets is still unknown: could they have been lost en route, or did they end up with the mysterious Gontarenko? The independent publication was not able to contact Lieutenant Gontarenko. They tried to interview him via his social media accounts, which feature panda avatars or are named after the bear. Gontarenko has changed his hometown from Astrakhan to St. Petersburg on his profile. Mediazona could not reach him either through his friends or his wife.

With suspicion mounting, in November 2023, requests spread across social media asking people to stop sending blankets to Gontarenko.

The investigation is ongoing.

You Might Also Like

Make Fairy Tales, not War
  • June 05, 2024

Make Fairy Tales, not War

Russian authorities are spending more on the production of fantasy films than on war films, according to a recent study.
Snowing on Your Parade
  • May 12, 2024

Snowing on Your Parade

A few things were notably absent (and present) from this year's Victory Day parade.
Small Things Can Fix Everything
  • May 06, 2024

Small Things Can Fix Everything

From looking for a lost cat to gathering signatures for Boris Nadezhdin, Russians find hope in their communities. 
Returning Home to Kill
  • April 29, 2024

Returning Home to Kill

More than 100 persons have been killed by returning Russian soldiers since the beginning of Russia's War on Ukraine.
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of our Books

A Taste of Chekhov
December 24, 2022

A Taste of Chekhov

This compact volume is an introduction to the works of Chekhov the master storyteller, via nine stories spanning the last twenty years of his life.

The Moscow Eccentric
December 01, 2016

The Moscow Eccentric

Advance reviewers are calling this new translation "a coup" and "a remarkable achievement." This rediscovered gem of a novel by one of Russia's finest writers explores some of the thorniest issues of the early twentieth century.

Murder and the Muse
December 12, 2016

Murder and the Muse

KGB Chief Andropov has tapped Matyushkin to solve a brazen jewel heist from Picasso’s wife at the posh Metropole Hotel. But when the case bleeds over into murder, machinations, and international intrigue, not everyone is eager to see where the clues might lead.

Fearful Majesty
July 01, 2014

Fearful Majesty

This acclaimed biography of one of Russia’s most important and tyrannical rulers is not only a rich, readable biography, it is also surprisingly timely, revealing how many of the issues Russia faces today have their roots in Ivan’s reign.

The Latchkey Murders
July 01, 2015

The Latchkey Murders

Senior Lieutenant Pavel Matyushkin is back on the case in this prequel to the popular mystery Murder at the Dacha, in which a serial killer is on the loose in Khrushchev’s Moscow...

Steppe
July 15, 2022

Steppe

This is the work that made Chekhov, launching his career as a writer and playwright of national and international renown. Retranslated and updated, this new bilingual edition is a super way to improve your Russian.

Driving Down Russia's Spine
June 01, 2016

Driving Down Russia's Spine

The story of the epic Spine of Russia trip, intertwining fascinating subject profiles with digressions into historical and cultural themes relevant to understanding modern Russia. 

Survival Russian
February 01, 2009

Survival Russian

Survival Russian is an intensely practical guide to conversational, colloquial and culture-rich Russian. It uses humor, current events and thematically-driven essays to deepen readers’ understanding of Russian language and culture. This enlarged Second Edition of Survival Russian includes over 90 essays and illuminates over 2000 invaluable Russian phrases and words.

Woe From Wit (bilingual)
June 20, 2017

Woe From Wit (bilingual)

One of the most famous works of Russian literature, the four-act comedy in verse Woe from Wit skewers staid, nineteenth century Russian society, and it positively teems with “winged phrases” that are essential colloquialisms for students of Russian and Russian culture.

About Us

Russian Life is a publication of a 30-year-young, award-winning publishing house that creates a bimonthly magazine, books, maps, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955