Captured Ukrainian-born Soldiers: Why They Fought for Russia
British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
In Western Ukraine, behind high walls and layers of locked gates, there is a camp full of men captured fighting for Russia. Many of those crouching in the shade around the edges of the prison yard were recruited from big cities like St Petersburg and Yekaterinburg, not far-flung and poorer regions like at the start of the full-scale invasion. But not all the prisoners are Russian. Among them are soldiers from Ukraine itself: the men who went to war with their own country.
Interviewing prisoners of war is not straightforward, especially when ensuring they are not being coerced and fairly assessing their openness to speak. With no access to the military inside Russia, it offers a rare chance to explore the dynamics of this war and understand potential motivators, including Ukrainian-born soldiers fighting for Russia.
Here are some key takeaways from these interviews:
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Recruitment and Motivation: The prisoners, including Ukrainian-born individuals, joined the war effort for various reasons. Some, like Anton, who joined at 18 after his hometown in eastern Ukraine was occupied, were driven by a desire to defend their land. Others mentioned feeling pro-Russian or having blurred national identities.
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Loss and Recruitment Challenges: Several prisoners noted that their peers who went to war with them have been killed, which may indicate declining volunteer numbers. They also suggested that recruitment fees might not be enough to attract a constant stream of new volunteers.
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Legal Status and Treatment: Ukraine considers these prisoners as its own citizens and treats them as prisoners of war, despite Russia’s control over their regions. The men are sent to prisoner-of-war (PoW) camps, where they are held along with Russian prisoners, blurring the lines of their national identities further.
"I consider myself Russian." — Anton, a Ukrainian-born soldier captured fighting for Russia.
