# Telnyashka > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Telnyashka > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Telnyashka.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telnyashka > Source revision: 1343346083 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Distinctively striped undershirt, part of uniform of Russian forces}} {{Infobox clothing type | name = Telnyashka | image_file = 2012. День Победы в Донецке 037.jpg | image_size = | caption = A man wears a blue-white sleeveless ''telnyashka'' at the 2012 [Victory Day](/source/Victory_Day_(9_May)) celebration in [Donetsk](/source/Donetsk). | type = [Undershirt](/source/Undershirt) | material = | location = [Russia](/source/Russia) }} A '''telnyashka''' ({{langx|ru|тельняшка}}, {{IPA|ru|tʲɪlʲˈnʲaʂkə|pron}}) or '''telnik''' ({{lang|ru|тельник}}) is a type of [undershirt](/source/undershirt) worn with [military uniform](/source/military_uniform)s of the [Russian Armed Forces](/source/Russian_Armed_Forces). They traditionally feature blue and white [horizontal](/source/Vertical_and_horizontal) stripes, and can come in varying thicknesses and may be sleeved or sleeveless. Other variations of ''telnyashka'' with different colour schemes have been adopted based on a [unit](/source/Military_organization)'s affiliation. ''Telnyashkas'' originated in the [Imperial Russian Navy](/source/Imperial_Russian_Navy) and spread from the [Soviet Navy](/source/Soviet_Navy) to the other [branch](/source/Military_branch)es of the Soviet Armed Forces. They have become a [cultural icon](/source/cultural_icon) of both Russia and the Soviet Union, especially their militaries, and are widely featured in [popular culture](/source/popular_culture). ==Technical details== [[File:Victory Day Parade 2008-9.jpg|thumb|[Russian Airborne Forces](/source/Russian_Airborne_Forces) soldiers wear ''telnyashkas'' on parade.]] The uniforms of Russia's Naval, Airborne and Naval Infantry personnel do not include conventional collared [shirt](/source/shirt)s. Open-fronted [jacket](/source/jacket)s of various designs make the distinctively striped telnyashka a conspicuous part of the clothing of branches of the Russian armed forces. Telnyashkas are also available to civilian customers and may come in a variety of knittings. Single-stranded knitting is the standard military-issue variant, but double- and quadruple-stranded knitting for increased warmth can be produced. A quadruple-stranded telnyashka is thick enough to keep the wearer warm with nothing else on, even at {{convert|5|C}}, as it was originally developed to be worn by military divers under a [dry suit](/source/dry_suit). ==History== [[File:RIAN archive 21512 Duty Seaman Rings the Bells.jpg|thumb|[Soviet Pacific Fleet](/source/Soviet_Pacific_Fleet) sailor in [full dress](/source/full_dress), including a dark-blue ''telnyashka''.]] [[File:Soviet naval infantrymen DN-SN-86-00829.jpg|thumb|right|[Soviet Naval Infantry](/source/Soviet_Naval_Infantry) wearing ''telnyashkas'' in the mid-1980s.]] The Russian telnyashka originated in the distinctive striped ''[marinière](/source/marini%C3%A8re)'' blouse worn by merchant sailors and fishermen of [Brittany](/source/Brittany),{{cite web |last1=Foreman |first1=Katya |title=The ultimate symbol of French cool |url=https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20160309-the-ultimate-symbol-of-french-cool |website=BBC News |access-date=11 May 2023 |date=9 March 2016}} who adopted this style to distinguish them from other sea-going nationalities. The fashion was later adopted and popularized by the [French Navy](/source/French_Navy) and other navies of the [pre-dreadnought](/source/pre-dreadnought) era. Sailors of the modern French Navy still wear these garments in certain orders of dress. The [Imperial Russian Navy](/source/Imperial_Russian_Navy) adopted the blue and white striped telnyashka blouse during the 19th century. The tradition of Russian or Soviet ground troops wearing a naval uniform comes from [Soviet Navy](/source/Soviet_Navy) sailors who fought as shore units during [World War II](/source/World_War_II). It is exemplified by the famed Soviet sniper [Vassili Zaitsev](/source/Vassili_Zaitsev), a [petty officer](/source/petty_officer) in the [Soviet Pacific Fleet](/source/Soviet_Pacific_Fleet) who volunteered for army duty, but refused to give up his telnyashka because of the pride it engendered. [Vasily Margelov](/source/Vasily_Margelov), who was later to modernize the [Soviet Airborne Forces](/source/Soviet_Airborne_Forces) (VDV), had previously served with a [Naval Infantry](/source/Soviet_Naval_Infantry) unit in World War II, and procured telnyashkas for the VDV as a mark of their elite status. == Use in the Russian military == Although the blue and white striped telnyashka is the best-known, other colors are in use.{{Cite web |date=2015-08-19 |title=Тельняшка — символ настоящих воинов [The Telnyashka - Symbol of True Warriors] |url=http://paraparabellum.ru/uniforma/telnyashka-simvol-nastoyashhix-voinov/}} The colored telnyashka stripes usually match the beret, except for the Marines, who have a blue striped shirt and black beret. [[File:RIAN archive 109544 Frontier Guards Day.jpg|thumb|Former servicemen of the [Border Guard Service](/source/Border_Guard_Service_of_Russia) wearing green and white ''telnyashkas'' during a celebration.]] === Blue and white stripes === [[File:Evstafiev-spetsnaz-prepare-for-mission.jpg|thumb|Soviet [Spetsnaz](/source/Spetsnaz) wearing ''telnyashkas'' with [Afghanka](/source/Afghanka) battle dress during the [Soviet–Afghan War](/source/Soviet%E2%80%93Afghan_War) in the 1980s.]] * [Russian Navy](/source/Russian_Navy): The telnyashka was first worn by the 19th century [Imperial Russian Navy](/source/Imperial_Russian_Navy) and has been worn by Russian sailors ever since. ** [Russian marines](/source/Russian_Naval_Infantry), [PDSS](/source/PDSS) and submarine crewmen: As branches of the Navy they wear the blue and white telnyashka with their dress uniform, but in the field they use a black and white striped variant.{{Cite web |title=Расцветки тельняшек - о чём они говорят {{!}} Милитари магазин |url=https://military-plus.ru/blog/19/rastsvetki-telniashek-o-chem-oni-govoriat |access-date=2022-04-09 |website=military-plus.ru}} ** The maritime service of the [Border Troops](/source/Soviet_Border_Troops) follows the traditions of the Navy, including its ranks and the telnyashka. * [Russian Airborne Troops](/source/Russian_Airborne_Troops) (VDV). Introduced by General [Vasily Margelov](/source/Vasily_Margelov).{{cite book |last1=Campbell |first1=David |title=Soviet Paratrooper Vs Mujahideen Fighter |date=2017 |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing |location=London |isbn=9783658222901 |page=15 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LKE2DwAAQBAJ |access-date=11 May 2023 |quote=a long-sleeved version of the ubiquitous ''telnyashka'' striped vest, a legacy of Major-General Vasily Filippovich Margelov's appointment as head of the VDV...Margelov had served in the Naval Infantry during the Great Patriotic War and brought the ''telnyashka'' across from them to his new branch of the service as a sign of the VDV's elite status}}{{cite book |last1=Schofield |first1=Carey |title=The Russian Elite |date=1993 |publisher=Greenhill Books |isbn=9781853671555 |page=34 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nVIsAAAAYAAJ&q=telnyashka |quote=Magelov indeed introduced the ''telnyashka'', the blue-and-white striped t-shirt that was to become the trademark of the VDV.}} to the displeasure of Admiral [Sergey Gorshkov](/source/Sergey_Gorshkov).{{Cite web |last=Грозный |first=Олег |date=2020-07-31 |title=Десантная тельняшка родилась на Ладоге |url=http://redstar.ru/desantnaya-telnyashka-rodilas-na-ladoge/ |access-date=2022-04-09 |website=redstar.ru}} ** [GRU](/source/GRU_(Russian_Federation)) [Spetsnaz](/source/Spetsnaz): Military intelligence special forces often wear VDV uniforms including the blue telnyashka. ** [KGB Border Troops](/source/Soviet_Border_Troops) airborne units use VDV insignia and uniform * [Federal Security Service](/source/Federal_Security_Service) spetsnaz units and the [Kremlin Regiment](/source/Kremlin_Regiment){{Cite web |title=Президентский полк |url=https://forma-odezhda.com/encyclopedia/prezidentskij-polk/ |access-date=2022-04-09 |website=forma-odezhda.com}} of the [Federal Protective Service](/source/Federal_Protective_Service_(Russia)) wear [cornflower blue](/source/cornflower_blue) telnyashkas as part of their uniform. * KGB and FSB officers in military counter-intelligence roles wear the same color as that of the unit that they are assigned to.{{Cite web |title=Тельняшка - морская душа. И не только морская... » Чекист.ru |url=http://www.chekist.ru/article/4066 |access-date=2022-04-09 |website=www.chekist.ru}} === Green and white stripes === * [Border Service of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation](/source/Border_Service_of_the_Federal_Security_Service_of_the_Russian_Federation) follow the traditions of their [Soviet](/source/Soviet_Border_Troops) predecessor and wear the green telnyashka (except for its maritime and airborne units). Green is also used by the Border Troops of Belarus.{{Cite web |date=2019-05-28 |title=РЕПОРТАЖ: Один день из жизни погранзаставы на рубеже трех стран |url=https://www.belta.by/regions/view/reportazh-odin-den-iz-zhizni-pogranzastavy-na-rubezhe-treh-stran-348944-2019/ |access-date=2022-04-09 |website=www.belta.by |language=ru-RU}} === Red and white stripes === [[File:2018 Moscow Victory Day Parade 43.jpg|thumb|[National Guard of Russia](/source/National_Guard_of_Russia) guardsmen wearing red and white ''telnyashkas''.]] * The [National Guard of Russia](/source/National_Guard_of_Russia) (''Rosgvardiya'') wear dark red and white striped telnyashkas with dark red berets, as did its predecessor, the Interior Troops.{{Cite web |date=2020-05-26 |title=Форма Росгвардии нового образца - чем регламентируется, обмундирование и экипировка подразделений и срочников, цвета камуфляжа, знаки различия ФСВНГ |url=https://militaryarms.ru/obmundirovanie/voennaya-forma/forma-rosgvardii/ |access-date=2022-04-09 |language=ru-RU}} === Orange and white stripes === The Russian [Ministry of Emergency Situations](/source/Ministry_of_Emergency_Situations_(Russia)) wears an orange and white striped telnyashka, introduced by [Sergei Shoigu](/source/Sergei_Shoigu) when he was its Minister. The Ministry is mostly in charge of civil defence and firefighters and uses army-style ranks.{{Cite web |title=Новая форма мчс 2018 - 8 Октября 2021 - Блог - SPETSVOIN |url=http://www.spetsvoin.ru/blog/novaja_forma_mchs_2018/2021-10-08-142 |access-date=2022-04-09 |website=www.spetsvoin.ru}} ==In popular culture== The telnyashka is worn by a number of popular non-military characters of [cinema](/source/film) and children's [cartoon](/source/cartoon)s, notably The Wolf in ''[Nu, pogodi](/source/Nu%2C_pogodi)'' and Matroskin the Cat in ''[Troe iz Prostokvashino](/source/Three_from_Prostokvashino)''.{{cn|date=December 2025}} Telnyashkas serve as part of the "image" and the attire of the art group [Mitki](/source/Mitki).{{cn|date=December 2025}} There is a popular saying: "We are few in number, but we are in telnyashkas!" ({{langx|ru|Нас мало, но мы в тельняшках!|Nas malo, no my v telnyashkakh!}}), alluding to the reputation of troops who wear the shirt as ferocious warriors.{{cite web |title=Справочник по фразеологии |url=https://frazeolog_ru.academic.ru/285/%D0%BD%D0%B0%D1%81_%D0%BC%D0%B0%D0%BB%D0%BE%2C_%D0%BD%D0%BE_%D0%BC%D1%8B_%D0%B2_%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%BB%D1%8C%D0%BD%D1%8F%D1%88%D0%BA%D0%B0%D1%85 |website=Academic.ru |access-date=6 June 2023 |language=RU |quote="The expression first appeared in the Great Patriotic War amongst sailors who, together with the infantry, took part in combat operations on land and were famous for their fearlessness and heroism. The expression means: we are few, but we are serious opponents for the enemy and it is not easy to defeat us.}}[http://www.spb.aif.ru/society/people/_nas_malo_no_my_v_telnyashkah_istoriya_morskoy_rubahi_v_rossii "«Нас мало, но мы в тельняшках». История морской рубахи в России"], ''[Arguments and Facts](/source/Arguments_and_Facts)'' ==See also== * [Sailor suit](/source/Sailor_suit) ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== {{commons category}} * Presidential Decree N 921 of 28.08.2006 (http://lawrussia.ru/texts/legal_739/doc739a408x944.htm) * Zaitsev, Vassili. ''Notes of a Russian Sniper''. Trans. David Givens, Peter Kornakov, Konstantin Kornakov. Ed. Neil Orkent. Los Angeles: 2826 Press Inc., 2003. {{Clothing}} {{Russian souvenirs|state="expanded"}} Category:20th-century fashion Category:Culture of the Soviet Union Category:Russian clothing Category:Russian Navy Category:Soviet Army Category:Soviet military uniforms Category:Soviet Navy --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Telnyashka](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telnyashka) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telnyashka?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.