‘I’m beginning to understand that we’re not on the right side.’ WSJ spoke to Russian fighters who surrendered in Ukraine. — Meduza
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The Wall Street Journal spoke to several Russian soldiers who surrendered to Ukraine and were taken prisoner in the early days of Ukraine’s offensive. The outlet confirmed the identities of the prisoners of war, but withheld their surnames and identifying pictures in their report. The men, “a mix of professionals, conscripts, and mercenaries” describe intense pressure from Russian military command and authorities in Russia to fight at any cost.

One captured Russian soldier says he worries about what will happen if he is returned to Russia in a prisoner swap. “If I have the opportunity, I’ll refuse to be exchanged." Another fighter reported that a doctor declared him unfit for combat after he was wounded in March, but his commander ordered him back to the front.

  • chaorace@lemmy.sdf.org
    2·
    2 years ago

    Who do you think gets captured and tossed into POW camps? This guy’s just some rank & file grunt who was either stupid enough to volunteer or unlucky enough to get drafted. In either case, I find it hard to blame him for being disillusioned after getting shipped off into a meatgrinder and realizing that reality didn’t measure up to the state propaganda.

    Hopefully these sadsacks manage to take something home from the experience that can stop the next war from happening before it wastes more young lives.

    • sin_free_for_00_days@lemmy.one
      5·
      2 years ago

      I can remember a couple decades ago I was talking to my grandmother and she said that for the most part people trusted the gov’t. Until my dad’s friends started coming back from Vietnam and spitting truth. I hope enough Russians go back and spread the word, but I worry that not enough will be alive to even go back.