I've read a lot about Russian soldiers, the article is old because there is little propaganda in it, I would think shortly after WW2. They are quite a tough bunch still. My brother in law was in the airborn, assigned as an infantryman to an airportable BMD-2 unit in the 90s.

Last time we talked he had little to say that was nice about it. That was the 90s though. He hated it. My wifes father who was in it in the 50s was a driver in an ISU-152 and he really has the more normal love/hate relationship you would expect. He said that each battalion had its own little farm, raised its own pigs ect or when on the move they could requisition stuff from collective farms if need be. They were not supposed to live off of the civilian population but there was always barter going on, especially fuel for vodka bartering. They would do chores for the towns people for a little money or in exchange for wanted items. The food they had available was never as good as what the women in the villages made so thats understandable. Along with other reasons for being there.
I guess the farms were always tended by FNGs, beatings were meted out if another group (your neighbors over the hill or up the road) of soldiers stole pigs or vegetables from them, raiding the gardens of other groups was a sport, getting caught by the other group was a beating. You guarded your farm 24hrs a day and you looked for ways to raid the other guys garden 24 hours a day. I guess it was like a little war, good experience too.
This is what he talks about most, I asked him if it was hard or inhuman and he said no, it was not the best life but then what soldier wants to be a soldier?
I wish I could've understood more, even with Anna translating her english wasn't that good. It was very interesting though.