The Russian officer Lev maintained contact with the Ukrainian side, providing information about his unit. He decided to leave the occupying forces and join the Russian Volunteer Corps, which fights on the side of Ukraine. He shared his story in an interview with journalist Dmytro Karpenko.
No matter what I did, I couldn’t leave the army. Unless I cut off my finger. There's a list of 30 diseases that can get you out of the army, but that wasn’t my option. It’s unlikely I would have been able to leave for abroad either.
Lev was a career military man, graduated from a cadet corps and a military academy in St. Petersburg, and went to the front as an officer. Although he did not wish to take part in the war, he had no choice as he was a soldier.
Decision to Surrender and Join the RDK
Soon Lev decided to surrender to the Ukrainian troops and began supporting them against the Russian forces. His actions allowed the Ukrainian Armed Forces to strike the 36th Brigade, resulting in losses on the occupiers’ side. As a result of the special operation, Lev switched sides to Ukraine, and his family supported his choice.
The news that the Russian officer decided to join the Ukrainian army highlights the complexities of the choices faced by servicemen in conflict zones. This news underscores the importance of personal beliefs and moral values in a soldier's life.