2024-04-13 06:13:52
The anti-Putin unit made up of Russian citizens – the Sibir battalion – has grown by several dozen new recruits. Those in the Kyiv region completed an exercise, during which they were trained by soldiers who took part in cross-border raids in the Russian regions of Belgorod and Kursk in March. “Ukrainians treat us like their own. They take care of us as if we were their children,” he claims in the report.
“We are a family.” A Russian fighting for Ukraine described the differences in the armies of the two countries | Video: Reuters
A new recruit from the Siberian Nord battalion, who introduced himself to Reuters editors under his combat nickname for security reasons, was surprised after his acceptance into the unit. “I expected to come here and live in the trenches until the end of my days. Then it turned out that they treat us like the elite,” he says.
“Not once have I heard that we Russians are second-class people. The presenters and guests of Russian (state and Kremlin-controlled) television constantly repeat that Ukrainians say that about us,” he adds.
The soldier claims that fighting for Ukraine is very different from the “meat grinder,” as analysts call the combat tactics of the Russian army. “They take care of me like I’m their child. That left a very strong impression on me. They told us right away, ‘Guys, you’re our kids now, we’re going to take care of you.’ And that’s how we became part of the family,” he said.
He also described that compared to his experience in the Russian army, the attitude of the Ukrainian colonels is friendly. “I was shocked. In Russia you always have to greet a colonel: ‘Comrade colonel’. But here every commander knows that tomorrow he will be in the trenches by your side. So he considers you his equal,” he describes.
In the past, Russian officials described the Siberian battalion as a puppet of the Ukrainian army and the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). A spokesman for Ukraine’s military intelligence has previously said the groups operate independently of Ukraine in their raids, but Kiev has never clarified how they obtained the advanced weapons and armored vehicles they use during their operations.
“This war can only be ended when Putin and his inner circle are killed. And if that happens, the liberal opposition should ‘grow their balls,'” says another recruit, called Johnny by fellow squad members.
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“We don’t have any more ammunition, I wish we could make it ourselves,” Ukrainian soldiers claim. | Video: Reuters