“I fled to the Crimea because I didn’t want to fight”

Original: Antifashist.com
Translated by Alexander Fedotov / Edited by @GBabeuf

“I fled to the Crimea, because I do not want to fight”

Another fugitive from the Ukrainian Army reported that there are more and more rumours in military units of the UAF about an imminent resumption of large-scale military action against the Donbass republics.

The staff of the Crimean Border Guard service detained a soldier of the 28th Mechanised Brigade of Nikolayev near the Perekop checkpoint. The colourful character could barely stand on his feet, and was covered in cuts and bruises. In addition, he reeked of alcohol.

“Dressed in Ukrainian Army camouflage, the detainee had no documents proving his identity. He was in a state of alcoholic intoxication, and had multiple bruises on his face,” the border guards said. “The soldier explained his decision to desert by the fact that he does not wish to participate in the armed conflict in the Donbass. Allegedly, he said as much to his company commander, after which he was beaten by the officer of the brigade.”

The fugitive said that he voluntarily left the unit on November 2, when preparations for the redeployment began: “I fled to the Crimea, because I do not want to fight.”

First he reached the Kherson region, from where he followed the railroad tracks on foot and reached the Russian border. He boozed all the way, but no one stopped him—there are many such ‘beauties’ there. He attempted to illegally cross the border at Perekop on November 5.

Immediately after his detention the Ukrainian soldier was provided with medical care. He was also provided with good living conditions and adequate nutrition. The question of the status of his stay in the RF [Russian Federation –ed.] is currently under consideration.

According to unofficial information, throughout the past ten days the Russian secret services have been checking the fugitive’s background. Was the Cossack planted?

As is known, in the beginning of September a trio of hungover paratroopers of the 79th Airborne Brigade of Nikolayev entered Crimea. Taking vodka, watermelon and salo [cured pork fat –ed.], dressed in shorts, striped T-shirts and flip-flops—they insisted they came “to fraternise with the Russian Marine lads on the opposite shore of the Sivash.”

They lived for two months in a comfortable hotel with air conditioning and satellite TV. They received all necessary medical treatment. They were fed according to the norms of the modern Russian Army, meaning there was plenty of delicious food. They were returned home when their mothers paid the fine for their illegally crossing the border—a laughable thousand roubles.

Throughout this time, the commanders of the 70th Brigade established no contact; they were not interested in the fate of their soldiers.

As soon as the “heroic” freebies were over and these embodiments of paratroopers were returned home—the troika of overfed Ukrainian soldiers dramatically changed their testimony. In the Ukrainian broadcast media these smart lads depicted their “abduction by a squad of armed Russians” who “compelled them to cross to the Russian side.”

For example, the senior soldier, Yurov, suddenly issued a detective story in which his colleagues, who had decided to sit on the beach, “were surrounded by the Russian military, beaten with rifle butts, tied up, and taken to Armyansk.” Now he insists they “were forced by the Russians” to tell the story of their hike with the watermelon and vodka to Russian Crimea.