The Story of Ruslan
Ruslan, a 24-year-old Belarusian citizen, was captured by Ukrainian forces after surrendering voluntarily while serving with the Russian army. His path to the front lines began after he completed a 14-year sentence in a Russian penal colony for attempted drug trafficking. Upon his release, he was pressured into signing a military contract, after which he and other prisoners were sent for training and subsequently deployed to the combat zone.
Ruslan spent only nine days on the front line, four of which were without any food or water. On the ninth day, which was also his fourth day without provisions, he received orders to assault Ukrainian positions. He stated:
"It was the ninth day at the position, and also the fourth day without any supplies at all... We clarified that we hadn't eaten or drunk, but they told us we had to get ready, go, and storm the positions."
His commanders informed the unit they would be entering an 'empty bunker,' which aroused Ruslan's suspicions. As he approached the shelter, he heard gunfire and realized it might be a trap. Ruslan confessed:
"I just saw some legs. I thought it was a corpse. But they moved a little. Then I noticed two Ukrainian soldiers who were sleeping. I just shook them and said: 'That's it.'"He then surrendered himself into captivity.
The Situation Regarding Prisoner Exchanges
It is important to note that Ruslan observed that foreigners fighting for Russia are rarely included on lists for prisoner swaps. The information about his capture was reported by the Ukrainian Witness project, citing 'Glavcom.' The context of prisoner exchanges also mentions other servicemen, such as:
- Artem Mubarakshin, who was captured with a burned face but was later treated in a care camp and returned to Russia.
- 27-year-old Alexey Biloborodov, who gained dozens of kilograms during seven months in captivity.
This case highlights the difficult realities on the front lines, where soldiers often find themselves in life-threatening conditions with inadequate support. The prisoner exchange process remains tense, as foreign fighters like Ruslan may be excluded, complicating their potential return home. His experience is a stark example of how young people can be drawn into conflict under duress, facing severe consequences. The use of convicts in frontline assaults has become a notable, and controversial, feature of this war.