Azov fighters capture Russian soldier bearing striking resemblance to Putin

POW's resemblance to Vladimir Putin draws attention

According to Главком: A soldier from Russia, who looks remarkably like President Vladimir Putin, has been taken prisoner by Ukraine's 12th Special Purpose Brigade 'Azov' of the National Guard. The captive, a professional mime, former KVN player, and head of a children's theater studio, signed a contract with Russia's Ministry of Defense in August 2025. However, by October of the same year, he had deserted, was forced back to the front, wounded by a drone, and ultimately surrendered.

Over 50 years old, the prisoner previously worked at a school, wrote scripts, performed at corporate events, and ran his own theater studio. He mentioned that comedian Pavel Volya is his fellow countryman and friend, with whom he began his KVN career. He also claimed that showman Timur Rodriguez is his direct student in theatrical arts.

Motivation and consequences

The prisoner's motivation for signing the contract was to help his daughter pay off her mortgage and to accompany a friend. However, the military enlistment office sent him to combat positions instead of the promised rear-area post in Rostov. While being treated in a hospital, Russian military command deducted 225,000 rubles from his card. In October 2025, he decided to desert.

After fleeing to Moscow, the prisoner hid for a week with acquaintances at a theater. But he was detained by police and the military commandant's office when he went outside wearing camouflage pants. His first combat mission was to search for a previous group of Russian soldiers who had gone missing. After being wounded by a drone-believing the first drone was Russian and the second Ukrainian-he surrendered to two Ukrainian soldiers.

Notably, former commander of the Alga battalion of the 72nd Separate Motor Rifle Brigade, Major Timur Abdurakhmanov (call sign Shaman), has been in Ukrainian captivity for 22 months. He was captured on September 12, 2023, near Andriivka in Donetsk region by fighters from Ukraine's 3rd Separate Assault Brigade. Additionally, a PhD in Economics from Saint Petersburg, Sergei Dranchevsky, found himself in Ukrainian captivity despite holding four higher education degrees, an MBA from the UK, and experience working at multinational corporations.

The prisoner, who initially became the butt of jokes due to his resemblance to Putin, remarked: 'When I was taken prisoner, the Ukrainian soldiers looked at me and said: Take off your hat, and they laughed. I thought: Am I that funny? Then they said: You're Putin! What do you mean, Putin?'

He also warned: 'I just recommend that you never, ever go into this country, especially with such aggressive intentions. It threatens death. I saw it here-the prisoner.'

This story highlights the complex situations faced by some Russian soldiers who, after signing contracts, found themselves in combat conditions they were unprepared for. The prisoner's comments about his motivation and desertion also underscore the socio-economic factors that can influence people's decisions to join the army. Furthermore, the case of a prisoner bearing a physical resemblance to Vladimir Putin adds an intriguing psychological dimension to the war, showing how personal stories can intersect with broader political narratives.

In a strikingly similar tale of desperation, another Russian soldier managed to evade capture for an extended period, hiding in a barrel for two weeks. This incident highlights the extreme lengths some soldiers are willing to go to avoid the harsh realities of combat. To learn more about this soldier's harrowing experience, read about how he lost half his weight during his time in hiding in this related story.