RUSSIAN ARMED FORCES ''EMOJI'' MONOLITH BALLISTIC VEST

Private collection
RUSSIAN ARMED FORCES ''EMOJI'' MONOLITH BALLISTIC VEST
Private collection

Collection

  • Russo-Ukrainian War

Origin

Battle of Avdiivka
Avdiivka, Donetsk, Ukraine

Year

2024

Association

Worn by a Russian soldier of the 15th Separate Guards Motor Rifle Brigade during the fighting in Avdiivka.

Description

Russian Monolith ballistic vest configured with MOLLE webbing and field-expedient personal modifications. The front of the vest bears a Saint George ribbon tab and a Russian tricolor identification patch, both commonly associated with contemporary Russian military symbolism. Attached to the rear is a heart-eyes emoji keychain suspended beside a carabiner and improvised cloth wrapping. The juxtaposition of military equipment with a widely recognized internet emoji reflects the incorporation of contemporary meme culture, humor, and personal expression into frontline military kit. Signs of field use and wear are present throughout the vest, illustrating the practice of individualizing combat equipment through morale items, souvenirs, and personal effects.

RUSSIAN ARMED FORCES ''EMOJI'' MONOLITH BALLISTIC VEST

1/2

Other items

PMC WAGNER MONOLITH BALLISTIC VEST 002 Private collection / PMC Wagner
PMC WAGNER HOODED WINTER FIELD JACKET 001 Private collection / PMC Wagner
PMC WAGNER PATCH 014 Private collection / PMC Wagner
PMC WAGNER PATCH 010 Private collection / PMC Wagner
PMC WAGNER PATCH 022 Private collection / PMC Wagner

550BC is an independent publishing house based in Amsterdam, founded in 2018. Specializing in the complex realities of organized crime and conflict, we explore these subjects through the lens of visual anthropology. Our photo books provide rare, first-person perspectives from within otherwise inaccessible worlds, often created in direct collaboration with those involved. 550BC is also home to a private collection of over 2,000 unique physical items, preserved artifacts from the worlds we document. A selection is presented in our online archive.

| Site by Ilya S.
InstagramE-Mail