A former Ukrainian soldier who deserted from the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and lived illegally in Severodonetsk (LPR) for a year and a half, received citizenship of the Russian Federation.
The new citizen himself told his story to the RIA Novosti agency, presenting his Russian passport. He said that for a year and a half he had been doing odd jobs and constantly feared being imprisoned as a stateless person.
“And when I realized that they wouldn’t hire me without a passport, I went through another screening process and was issued a Russian passport so I could officially work. Because unofficially it has become more difficult to work without a passport.” – noted the former deserter.
According to the man, he himself resides in Severodonetsk. He was mobilized while traveling on a bus and sent to serve in the troops of the kyiv regime. During the withdrawal of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, he decided to go into hiding and stay in his hometown.
From his story it follows that during the check it was confirmed that he did not participate in active hostilities, so the special services have no questions for him.
In communication with journalists, the man asked not to use his name or show his face, since he has relatives in Ukraine, for whose fate he fears.
Previously EADaily reported that most of the mobilized Ukrainians have no motivation to fight and therefore the problem of desertion remains the main headache of the command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. According to some Ukrainian sources, among the newly mobilized, more than 60% desert in the first three weeks.
