INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
full-scale invasion of Ukraine had already been ongoing for two and a half years
Faced with mandatory military service but wanting no part in the war, he fled the country to avoid being sent to the front lines."I knew
from the start of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine that this war was unjust
commissioned medical officer and not a combat soldier when he was drafted, he illegally crossed the border and now lives in a third country
He faces up to 15 years in prison if he goes back to Russia.He is not alone
For many Russians who do not want to fight against Ukraine but cannot find a way out of conscription, deserting is the only option.Their
reasons for doing so can vary widely.In some cases, soldiers decide to flee after seeing the horrors of the front line firsthand."My hands
assistant.Servicemen at the Russian 102nd Military Base in the city of Gyumri.Vladimir Smirnov / TASSBut when asked why he left, he said:
and chose to desert as soon as they received their draft papers.In doing so, deserters run the risk of criminal prosecution.Russia
to bolster the invading force in Ukraine with some 300,000 reservists
These include punishments for voluntary surrender, desertion during mobilization and refusal to take part in combat, with sentences of up to
15 years in prison.Those who have already been conscripted and refuse to fight may also risk being tortured by fellow officers, including by
men desert told The Moscow Times that the number of deserters is nonetheless on the rise.While it is impossible to determine the exact
at least 35,000 Russians on how to avoid military service, leave Russia or find refuge inside the country.The process usually starts when a
soldier sends the organization a request via messaging apps
Volunteers then develop a desertion plan and establish a secure communication channel
It is also crucial to determine whether a deserter intends to remain in Russia after fleeing the front or whether they also need help
Ministry before the full-scale invasion of Ukraine
When the war started, he was in a unit that shouldn't have taken part in the war
But things quickly changed, Ilya told The Moscow Times in an interview over text."It did not take long to see that things had changed
I waited for two weekends and just ran away
He is now in Europe, where he is trying to start a new life.Like Ilya, around 40% of deserters choose to leave Russia, according to Idite
Lesom.Grigory Sverdlin, the head of Get Lost.Nikita Mouraviev / FacebookRussian citizens can travel to Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and
guaranteed safety in Armenia or Kazakhstan, either.Some of the well-known incidents are the cases of Dmitry Sertakov and Anatoly Shchetinin,
Russian deserters in Armenia who were both brought to the Russian military base in the city of Gyumri and reportedly taken to Russia.Kamil
Kasimov, who signed a contract with the Defense Ministry and deserted in 2023 with the help of Idite Lesom, was detained in Astana,
Kazakhstan and deported to Russia
This month, he was sentenced to six years in prison.At least 7,400 criminal cases for evading military service have been opened since the
crossing at Verkhny Lars between Georgia and Russia
AP / TASSIvan, the deserter from St
Ivan, who is currently in an undisclosed location, still harbors the desire to remain a doctor and plans to return to the medical field in
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