Russian Fighters Join Ukraine's Army to Battle Against Putin's Regime

Strategic Insights -

As the conflict between Russia and Ukraine intensifies, a growing number of Russian fighters are defecting from their own country to join the Ukrainian army, bringing with them a unique perspective on the war and its complexities. These traitors, as they would be called in Moscow, are motivated by a range of factors, including opposition to Putin's regime, corruption, and the destruction of democracy. For them, joining Ukraine's Freedom of Russia Legion, which operates under the control of Kyiv's military intelligence services, is a way to defend themselves and their fellow Russians from the regime they once served.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Freedom of Russia Legion has several hundred Russian fighters, who have been involved in various battles, including driving back recent Russian assaults on the front line of the southern battlefields.
  • The legion operates under the control of Kyiv's military intelligence services, similar to other foreign volunteer units.
  • Russian fighters like Lazzy and Ceasar have spoken about the dangers of carrying out sabotage in Russia, and the ease with which they can be detected.
  • The saboteur Lazzy burned several railway-switching and electrical systems in arson attacks in Russia's Volga region, but being part of Ukraine's army has made him feel safer.
  • Ceasar, a veteran Russian fighter in Ukraine's army, began his opposition against Putin with what he calls "terrorist attacks".
  • Putin's forces have advanced in small bounds at huge cost east of Kharkiv, and already committed murder in Pokrovsk against local civilians left behind by Ukrainian withdrawal.
  • Drone warfare has kept the Russians back, but Ukraine's problem is that drones cannot fly in high winds, rain, fog or when it is snowing.
  • Putin's forces are likely to exploit bad winter weather and attempt to break through Ukrainian lines when drones are grounded

Statistics:

  • Ukraine's Freedom of Russia Legion has fielded several hundred Russian fighters.
  • The legion has been involved in driving back recent Russian assaults on the front line of the southern battlefields.
  • Russian fighters like Lazzy and Ceasar have spent weeks or months in foxholes and bunkers, trying to survive constant artillery and drone attacks.
  • Putin's forces have advanced in small bounds at huge cost east of Kharkiv.
  • Drone warfare has kept the Russians back for weeks.

Sources:

  • Interview with Lazzy, a Russian fighter, on his experience of sabotage in Russia and his decision to join Ukraine's army (The Independent).
  • Article on the Freedom of Russia Legion, a group of Russian fighters operating under the control of Kyiv's military intelligence services (The Independent).
  • Interview with Ceasar, a veteran Russian fighter in Ukraine's army, on his experience of the war and his opposition to Putin's regime (The Independent).