Russian soldier Nikita Chibrin of the 64th motorized rifle brigade, who is accused of crimes in Bucha, fled from the front and told The Insider about the horrors of the war he witnessed.
“I know for sure that there were facts of looting. I saw how cars were taken in Lipovka and Andreevka, I saw how they broke cars that could not start, destroyed houses. Apparently, they went crazy, they say, we have strength, we have tanks, we have infantry fighting vehicles, weapons, and so on. "Rambo Syndrome" turned on. They took decorations from houses, mobile devices.”
Chibrin also confirmed the fact of rape by Russian soldiers of women in Andreevka.
“They were going crazy because of this. Many found alcohol in their homes and drank. There was a case in Andreevka when a mother and daughter were raped. Four guys did it. One ran away, the rest were beaten with stools by colleagues and commanders. They really wanted to shoot them. They couldn't be blamed because there was no evidence, so they were just fired."
The serviceman said that Russian soldiers are in terrible conditions at the front.
“People have not been in the normal world for long. They did not have normal conditions. The Ukrainian army showed footage of the trench, where everything is human: shelter, isolation from moisture, normal beds, electricity. The Ukrainian army has a much better attitude towards its soldiers.”
Also, according to Chibrin, the Russian soldiers were promised that they would be sent home. The command puts physical and psychological pressure on those who wanted to leave the front or for being taken prisoner.
“Everyone was intimidated that they would cut off their penis or balls or do something else.”
The soldier also said that he pretended to be crazy at the front so that he would not be sent to the front line. Because he ran away and refused to shoot, everyone turned away from him, including his family.
“For them, I am a traitor to the Motherland and that’s all. And what, I had to go to war and kill Ukrainian civilians? Go to jail? The third option is to just leave.”
Chibrin said he wanted to testify in an international court: “I have nothing to hide. This is a criminal war that Russia started. I want to do my best to finish it."
Chibrin joined the army in the summer of 2021 – by his own admission, due to financial problems. According to the military man, his brigade was brought to Ukraine by deceit. According to Chibrin, he spent the first month of the war in the village of Lipovka, 50 km from Kyiv. During this period, his colleagues staged a genocide in Bucha and Andreevka.
On June 16, he was able to leave Ukraine by hiding in a truck bound for Russia. After his escape, he contacted human rights activists from Gulagu.net to help him leave Russia. On November 15, he landed in Madrid, where he immediately asked for political asylum. According to Chibrin, while his application is under consideration, he will be placed in a temporary center for refugees.