At dawn on February 24, 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. At home in Moscow, a young Russian who now goes by the name Karaban sat watching the television images in despair. He then decided to find a way to get to Ukraine to join Kiev’s troops to fight against the Russian forces.
Today, he is part of the Siberian Battalion, a unit made up of Russians who have joined the Ukrainian military to fight against their homeland with the goal of one day ousting Vladimir Putin. The members come mainly from ethnic minorities from the eastern parts of Russia.
– I was disillusioned with my own people, he says to the news agency AP.
– That’s why I wanted to come here and fight for a free Ukraine.
Unlike other Ukrainian volunteer units with Russian citizens, the Siberian Battalion is officially part of the regular Ukrainian army. The soldiers undergo lengthy security checks before being trained and sent to the front lines in eastern Ukraine where some of the war’s fiercest fighting is taking place.
Wants Putin to be deposed
The majority of the members of the battalion come from Eastern Siberia, which is one of the poorest regions in Russia. They hope to reduce Moscow’s political control over the region.
A soldier in the battalion openly says he wants Putin ousted.
– When this happens, we can talk about victory, he tells AP.
The battalion, which consists of a few dozen soldiers, was formed six months ago. They hope more will join and based on the applications received so far, they aim to have a 300-strong battalion of Russian soldiers.
– There must be tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands of other Russians who are willing to fight against Ukraine, says Karaban.