Dmitry: “Fighting against the Russian army is the only way to fight against the hated authorities”
I have been living in Ukraine since 2019, my move was related to criminal prosecution. My friend and I, roughly speaking, were avoiding the court verdict. Two articles were brought against him, four against me, and two of them were especially serious: the creation of an extremist community <Art. 282 part 1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation – The Insider> and participation in its activities <art. 282 h. 2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation – The Insider>. We understood that they would imprison us – a friend as a previously convicted person, me as an extremist, so we decided to run away.
Four days before the verdict, on August 10, 2019, we went to Moscow, and from there we crossed the border with Ukraine in a roundabout way and settled in the nearest villages. To take part in the fighting on the side of Ukraine and go to the zone of the Joint Forces Operation, we had two options: to join the Ukrainian Volunteer Corps (DUK) or the Ukrainian Volunteer Army (UDA). But by that time, the active phase of hostilities had already passed, it was difficult to register in the DUK or UDA, so we got a job in one of the structures of the “Azov” movement and stayed there until 2022.
We already knew about the attack. Therefore, we were prepared – what to do and where to go, we imagined, and the question of whether we should fight for Ukraine or not was not raised.
For us, fighting against the Russian army is the only way to fight against the hated authorities. Here an analogy with Raskolnikov arises: “Am I a trembling creature or do I have a right?” You have certain views, they try to suppress them, and you either become a spineless creature or you resist. The Ukrainians accepted us as their own, and when trouble came to their country, there were only two options: act like a “trembling creature” and run or stand with them to protect their homeland, which became our second home. For me, home is not the place where I was born, lived and grew up. For me, these are primarily people with whom I have a lot in common.
We came to Ukraine as refugees and were accepted. These people are my friends, they have always treated me with understanding, called me “their Ukrainian”, even though I myself have always called myself Russian. All the founders of the "Azov" movement come from Kharkov and the Kharkov region, they never had problems either with the Russian language or with Russian people in general. They often traveled to Russia, fought with the guys from CSKA. There are a lot of people from the Lugansk or Donetsk region in Azov, as well as guys from Russia. Therefore, there is no such thing here: you are Russian, get out of here.
They called me “their Ukrainian”, despite the fact that I called myself Russian
At the beginning of the war, after several days in the Azov Kyiv company, I was ordered to sit at the headquarters and did not give any orders. They didn't even give out weapons. But this was not connected with Russian citizenship, it just happened. Therefore, I decided to join the "Boatswain" <Sergey Korotkikh – one of the founders of the Azov regiment – The Insider> . I was given an AKM and four magazines.
The "Russian Volunteer Corps" was originally going to be a small gang of Russian guys. The “boatswain” was the only one who could come to an agreement, and we were given the defense badges so that we would not have problems with Russian citizenship: on “their” territory, the “Azov” people know who you are, and if you get to a random checkpoint with nervous Ukrainians, they can start make nonsense. Ksivy greatly simplified our movement, we began to slowly gather for trips.
First, we, as part of such a Russian “bandeika”, went to the 98th battalion of the Azov-Dnepr TRO, joined one of the groups and began to act with them at positions two through two. This went on for three or four months. Then they were replaced by the 111th battalion, and for a month and a half we were already working with them.
By now, most of the guys have been on the front line – everything except the recruits. I began to take part in hostilities in March. We went to the Chernihiv region – I have a friend from the Ivano-Frankivsk region, we helped him look for his sons, at that time they served in the 58th brigade.
Of course, when we leave for positions, we have established contact with the command – no initiative. Each section of the front has its own commander. When we arrive at the area, we act in accordance with the plans of the Ukrainian units. Sometimes we act together in positions, sometimes we perform our own tasks. You get used to the fights quickly, but it’s better not to climb here for too emotional people. I didn’t have serious assault operations, I didn’t have to kill at a distance of 10 meters, but there was a moment when we pulled someone close enough, I just passed by – it didn’t cause me any special emotions.
I didn’t have to kill at a distance of 10 meters, but when it happened, I just walked by – there were no special emotions
My friend and I had a story: we were sitting waiting for reinforcements to go on a mission together, and a mine flew to us. I was lying on my back, my leg flew, and my friend was sitting, and a fragment flew into his helmet and pierced his head. At first I did not understand at all what had happened, because I felt only a small prick. Then I turned my leg and saw that my trouser leg was torn in this place, I realized that it was wounded. There was no blood, so I began to take out the tourniquet to bandage my leg, but then the shelling resumed. My friend started to get up, but due to inertia he fell, and I saw that his whole head was bloody and his right shoulder was already covered in blood. And the mortar shelling continues. I look: our third friend was shell-shocked – he was without headphones. We somehow got up and ran. Then we drove to the hospital, where they injected me with lidocaine, cut off the skin and sewed up the wound.
Now we do not have tasks of combined arms combat. Previously, we could sit two after two, it was harder, there was not even a question of sleep. Now our "action vector", roughly speaking, is to arrive, complete the task and leave.
For those who want to get to us, the algorithm is quite simple. First: leave Russia, draw up a questionnaire, send it to the "Civil Council" and wait for an answer. Quite a lot of people want to get to us, so there is a queue. Of course, priority is given to people who have experience of serving in the army or participating in hostilities. And those who committed any partisan actions, and there is confirmation of this, come to us without a queue.
Max: "I don't want children and women killed, that's why I'm here"
For me, there was never a question of which side to fight on: I saw Russia's aggression against Ukraine when I lived there, and I understood what was happening for a long time. Not for nothing that many years ago I changed my name and surname to the American style – as a protest. I didn't want to have anything to do with this regime.
In the first days of the war, I lived in Italy and participated in demonstrations together with Ukrainians, helped with humanitarian aid. And all this time I was looking for an opportunity to join any military movement and was waiting for the moment when this would become possible.
At one of the demonstrations, I had a speech, I spoke in support of Ukraine – I never hid my position. After him, a guy came up to me and said that there is a movement of Russians who are fighting on the territory of Ukraine. He gave me a link to the group in a telegram, and after that I started a dialogue with the "Civil Council". Later, a meeting was scheduled with them in Europe. After a little moral and physical preparation, I was sent to Ukraine.
I never had problems with Ukrainians: I lived in Europe for about four years and often crossed paths with them. In war, the same thing: only positive reactions, no discrimination because of the passport. There were different cases at checkpoints, but they were all resolved with simple and kind conversations. I have not met a single serviceman or citizen of Ukraine who would treat me negatively: everyone understood that I was a new person here and had not taken part in hostilities before, they said that the main thing was that I did not support this aggression. Ukrainians really appreciate it when you try to help them.
There is no discrimination in war because of a passport: Ukrainians appreciate it when you try to help them
Every day here is absolutely different from the previous one. One day I can devote to sports or training, the other to study or household chores. I had few interactions with the military personnel of Ukraine, but even in such rare moments, everyone always supported and helped each other. I once ran out of water, I turned to a Ukrainian military man, and he immediately shared. Ukrainians are very open people who believe in themselves, in victory and in their country. It is sometimes very inspiring and amazing – how close they are to each other.
The sensations at the first departure for the task I had, probably, the same as everyone else, but the most vivid and memorable was a huge sense of responsibility. For your friends, for yourself, for what you do. It remains with me to this day. When I got involved in this, I understood that this was a war, and I realized that fear would haunt me. I put myself in the place of the civilians who suffered from the Russian aggressors, and I understand why I am here. This understanding is very sobering. It's not about the nationality of the person you're pointing the gun at. It doesn't matter who is of what nationality, we are all human. Only one thing matters: this is the aggressor, and he must be stopped. It is important for me that those who come to this earth understand that they do not belong here.
It is important for me that those who come to this earth understand: they do not belong here.
I haven't watched any news about civilian deaths in months. It's hard for me to see all this, I don't want children and women to be killed, and that's why I'm here. I stopped communicating with many relatives, even when I was living in Russia, and broke off contacts with friends already when the war began, therefore, in my circle of communication, only the best friends from Ukraine and comrades who are with me here. I chose my path and do not regret my decision at all. I am confident in my position and I understand that not everyone has it the same as mine.
When I lived in Russia, I saw that everything was done there for the "top" and not for the people. Putin brought up a whole generation of his "clones". It becomes scary from the realization that one person can do this to the whole country.
I believe in the victory of Ukraine, in the Ukrainian nation, because I know firsthand what kind of people they are. I saw how Ukrainians work abroad, how they help their relatives and friends who live here. And precisely because of what I saw, I can say that the Ukrainians are a strong people, and I would very much like to stay here after the end of the war and participate in the restoration of the country and everything that the “Russian world” destroyed.
Vladislav: “It is surprising that, unlike the Russian army, all fighters here have a voice”
I decided to fight on the side of Ukraine because I am normal. It seems natural to me to sympathize with those who have been attacked and speak out against the aggressor. Any sane person should be on the side of Ukraine today.
At the beginning of the war, we organized an anti-war movement with fellow countrymen in Yakutia. Even then, I understood that armed force was needed to achieve independence. The purpose of my visit to Ukraine is to create a division of the Yakuts. I am still in the Russian Volunteer Corps, but I am trying to create my own battalion, separate. At the moment, there is a question about creating such a unit from all the "non-Russians", because they simply have nowhere to go. There is a Tatar battalion, Chechen, Russian, but for the rest – the Yakuts, Kalmyks, Caucasians and other nationalities of Russia – there is no such thing.
I want to create my own battalion from different nationalities of Russia – they have nowhere to go, and they also want to defend Ukraine
In Yakutia, in addition to the anti-war movement, I was a member of several organizations that, let's say, fought for the collapse of Russia, and through people from these communities I went to the "Civil Council". It turned out to be the only organization that can recruit and send volunteers to Ukraine, which used to be very difficult. So I ended up in the RDC. I think that thanks to this opportunity, thousands of people will find peace in their souls, because sitting and watching your fellow citizens kill innocent citizens of a neighboring country is an ordeal.
On the part of the Ukrainians, the attitude towards us is quite warm. So far, I have met only friendly hugs and admiration for our courage. RDK primarily looks at motivation. We can say that the most motivated guys entered the first wave. Some have crossed two or three borders to get here. They abandoned comfort, home and family, because they knew that they were needed here.
I was an officer in the RF Armed Forces, and I have the opportunity to compare Russian and Ukrainian training. Each of us took a course of medical care here at the level of an instructor: you can save the wounded and be sure that you will be saved. The Russian army also has this, but if you compare it – heaven and earth. Here, after all, people are loved, and no one wants someone to die like cannon fodder. There are no orders "at any cost".
Here people are loved and no one wants someone to die like cannon fodder.
The day passes like in a regular army: getting up, exercising, breakfast, training sessions and going to the training ground. Usually everyone trains separately depending on the specialty, for example, racers, snipers or machine gunners train in different places.
Now we are going through an in-depth training course, because the war is high-tech, we need to master complex equipment, and not just take a machine gun and go into battle. For the most part, instructors are people with a decent education, good motivation, everyone has the task of training us so that we inflict maximum damage on the enemy.
As a military man, I am very surprised that all the fighters here have a voice. Almost everyone participates in decision-making, there is no such thing in the Russian army: the authorities send an order from above, and that’s it, the only thing for the personnel is to die. Here the system works differently. The RDK is a separate military unit that is subordinate to the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, so there is no “gag”: the command sets tasks for us in the same way as it does for the Ukrainian army.
Since I served in the RF Armed Forces, I knew perfectly well that there would be a war. Russia was preparing for it, but no one could say when and where it would begin. All this hysteria with military uniforms on May 9, drill classes in kindergartens and schools, and total militarization, sooner or later had to end with something. I really hope that this war will lead to the collapse of the "Russian Empire", and my people will gain freedom.
I do not just believe in the victory of Ukraine, I know that it will be so. This is not a matter of faith, but timing. Now the war has gone "to exhaustion", Russia is following the same path as Germany in its time. Too many coincidences for it to be a coincidence.