Red Army Boots No Longer Used

Eastern European soldiers will soon lose Russian style boots and foot bindings.

While Estonia wants to rid itself of a Red Army statue, Belarus and Ukraine want to be free of foot bindings and Soviet-era boots. While the boots and rough sock substitutes make for reliable footwear during inclement weather and over unfriendly terrain, to some Eastern European countries, these are just one more holdover from a rule that was just as uncomfortable and inhumane. Conditions in the Russian army are notorious for being torturous, so ill-fitting boots and the rough canvas lining that serves to protect the feet are not surprising elements to a Russian military uniform. No doubt, however, that other countries wish to distance their own armed forces from that sort of reputation as well and contribute to the health and well being of their soldiers by providing them with more comfortable footwear.