Ukrainian-born individuals captured while fighting for Russia have shared their varied reasons for joining the Russian army, with many stating they came from areas occupied by Russia since 2014 and most claiming to have joined voluntarily.
However, one man from the Donetsk region told the BBC he was coerced into fighting. He expressed a desire to return to his family and avoid being sent back to the front lines, stating his intention to hide if released. Official figures, based on intelligence, suggest over 50,000 Ukrainians have been forcibly conscripted in occupied areas, with some estimates placing the number much higher.
Some soldiers expressed a sense of defending their homeland, a sentiment rooted in their upbringing in areas that were part of the Soviet Union. Sergei, born in Luhansk, identified as Russian like his parents and stated he joined the Russian army a decade ago "to defend my homeland." He indicated he intended to retire upon his return rather than re-enlist.
Others joined to avoid lengthy prison sentences. One individual, a drug dealer, explained that facing a 15-year prison term was a significant deterrent, leading him to enlist at age 44 to avoid being 60 by the time of release. These "convict-soldiers" are reportedly expected to survive the war to secure their release, a prospect considered difficult for those in assault units. Some convicted murderers reported that their contracts were automatically renewed after a year, contrary to their initial expectations of freedom after such a period.
Prisoners in a camp in western Ukraine are engaged in labor, including constructing wooden coffins and assembling artificial Christmas trees. The wages earned from these tasks are used to purchase additional food and cigarettes.
