FROM OUR COOKERY CORRESPONDENT IN MOSCOW

THE RETOOLING OF at least one Russian bakery so that it can make FPV drones for the war in Ukraine has led to thousands of edible drones being provided to Russian forces at the front, according to an analysis of the Russian army by America’s CIA.

The edible drones mean that rations are not a problem for forward Russian units when they get ahead of their supply lines.

This enables Russian troops to punch deep into Ukrainian lines in the knowledge that they will have a strong supply of food and attack and reconnaissance capability at the same time. At least one Russian advance was kept going by a continuous supply of bread drones, augmented with sausage roll and pizza drones. And a company of Spetsnaz commandos cut off and surrounded by a Ukrainian counter attack near Chasiv Yar, was kept supplied by donut drones for three months. The Russian soldiers actually put on weight. Two developed type two diabetes.

Edible equipment is an area where Russia is currently leading the world, according to the CIA analysis. There are plans to produce edible tanks and artillery pieces, it says, however assault rifles will not be edible as the risk of soldiers nibbling on their weapons while waiting around is perceived to be too great.