The Story of Alexei from Serpukhov
A 32-year-old father of three from Serpukhov, Alexei, ended up captured after joining the military. In a recorded statement, he explained that he signed a contract to earn 700,000 rubles—roughly $7,600—to pay for his father’s prostate cancer treatment. His father, a colonel in the missile forces, received no financial support from the Russian Defense Ministry despite his rank, according to Alexei.
Alexei nearly finished high school with top marks and completed three years at a university in Dubna. Before deploying, he worked as a phone salesman and a smelter at a factory. While in captivity, he called his wife, who became hysterical upon learning of his situation, insisting he had been 'defending' the homeland.
Complicated Family Ties and Motivations
Notably, Alexei’s father was born in Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine, but left in his youth to study in Russia. After receiving a cancer diagnosis, doctors told him the surgery would cost 700,000 rubles. Alexei said:
“My father was diagnosed with cancer. They said we need 700,000 for the operation. The Defense Ministry did nothing, even though he’s a colonel. I had to sign a contract to earn the money.”
Tragically, Alexei’s father has refused to speak with his son since his capture, highlighting a strained relationship worsened by the ordeal. Meanwhile, a video featuring Alexei’s testimony and circumstances was released by journalist Dmitry Karpenko.
Another captured fighter, Edgar Grigoryan, an ethnic Armenian, said he joined the war to save his twenty cats. These stories illustrate the diverse personal reasons driving people into armed conflict.
This situation sheds light not only on the personal tragedies of soldiers but also on broader social and economic hardships faced by families during wartime. The lack of state support for servicemen—even those holding officer ranks—raises public concern. The accounts of Alexei and Edgar reveal a range of motivations for joining the front, including financial, emotional, and personal factors.
Alexei's story is not an isolated case; it reflects a broader pattern of personal sacrifices made by individuals caught in the turmoil of war. For instance, another captured soldier, Edgar Grigoryan, shared a strikingly different motivation for enlisting—his dedication to rescuing his twenty cats from eviction. Such diverse narratives reveal the complex and often emotional reasons that propel people into conflict. To explore this unusual yet poignant tale, read more about Edgar's journey here.