Some Russian soldiers take drastic measures to flee the war in Ukraine
(12 Apr 2024)
FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: 4488270
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1. Various animation of Russian soldiers
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Astana, Kazakhstan - 20 September 2023
2. SOUNDBITE (Russian) “YEVGENY,”deserter: “Many of my friends have died. And these were really good guys who didn’t want to fight. But there was no way out for them.”
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3. Various animation of Yevgeny, senior lieutenant
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Astana, Kazakhstan - 20 September 2023
4. SOUNDBITE (Russian) “YEVGENY”, deserter:
“We've been discussing this for a long time. We joked, ‘Well, we have a Plan B, because you can only leave wounded or dead.’ No one wants to leave dead. Everyone wants to go home and get the hell out of there. So, ‘Well, guys. Plan B?’ I say, ‘Just don’t miss. Shoot at the meat, where else?’ Immediately, blood gushed out. We blocked the leg with tourniquets, but still the blood gushed out. The whole leg is bloody, hot. The whole shoe, well, you feel it squelching. First, they shot at me, then at the comms man, in his thigh. And the sniper looked at us and thought, ‘Well, what the hell? Scary.’ Yes, he changed his mind after looking at us. I joke that I gave birth to myself. Look. The thing is that when a woman gives birth to a child, she experiences very intense pain and gives new life. I gave myself life after going through very intense pain.”
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5. Various animation of “Sportsmaster”, a senior lieutenant who defected
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Astana, Kazakhstan - 19 September 2023
++AP AGREED TO ALTER THE VOICE FOR SECURITY REASONS++
6. SOUNDBITE (Russian) “Sportsmaster,” deserter:
“The chief of staff showed me the Criminal Code. Showed me a book like that, and said, ‘You either go to jail or you go there. You only have two options.’ I said that neither option suits me and turned around to leave. I didn’t even ask if I could leave, just turned around and started leaving. Naturally, they understood that I was a great runner. You see, I was thinking they might let me go and in the end, they'd say that was daring for leaving so boldly. The feeling was devastation, inner devastation. Like there’s no more hope. It’s gone, 100% gone. I realize there are rockets flying. I mean, in 2023, in 2022, rockets flying! I immediately made a decision that I would not support it in any way. Not even move my little finger to support what has begun.”
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7. Various animation of Farhad Ziganshin
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Astana, Kazakhstan - 20 September 2023
8. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Farhad Ziganshin, deserter:
“I went to passport control, gave my passport. And a minute later, the curtain closed behind me. They asked me, ‘Are you on the wanted list?’ At that moment, I turned completely pale, and cold sweat began to flow over me. A man in civilian clothes came in and started asking questions about what happened to me. I said, ‘No, I’m not on any wanted list. There must be some mistake.’ But then he started saying, ‘You are my Muslim brother. I am also against the war. Tell me everything.’ For some reason, I trusted him and talked.”
ASSOCIATED PRESS
9. Animation of three Russian deserters
STORYLINE:
For Russian soldiers, the only ways out of Ukraine are injury, prison or death.
Thousands of Russian soldiers have gone AWOL, hoping for a welcome from the West that has never arrived.
Here are three of their stories.
Yevgeny – who doesn’t want his full name used - is an officer who took drastic measures to get off the front line.
SOUNDBITE “Sportsmaster” (Russian):
SOUNDBITE Farhad Ziganshin (Russian):
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