Support The Moscow Times!

Man Sheds 46 Kilos After Ruled Unfit to Serve in Russian Army

A resident of the western Siberian city of Prokopyevsk has lost 46 kilograms after being turned away from the Russian army because of his excess weight, a spokesman for the Central Military District told the Interfax news agency Monday.

Sergei Malyovany, 20, signed up to join the Airborne Troops in spring but was rejected after being ruled temporarily unfit for being overweight at 130 kilograms, spokesman Yaroslav Roshchupkin said in the report.

With a combination of intensive training in the Russian martial art combat sambo, general physical exercise and diet restrictions he brought his weight down to 84 kilograms and will be recruited in November, the report said.

More than 63,000 conscripts have been recruited in the fall draft which began this month, the report said.

… we have a small favor to ask.

As you may have heard, The Moscow Times, an independent news source for over 30 years, has been unjustly branded as a "foreign agent" by the Russian government. This blatant attempt to silence our voice is a direct assault on the integrity of journalism and the values we hold dear.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. Our commitment to providing accurate and unbiased reporting on Russia remains unshaken. But we need your help to continue our critical mission.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just 2. It's quick to set up, and you can be confident that you're making a significant impact every month by supporting open, independent journalism. Thank you.

Continue

Read more