Kathmandu— Following the creation of the Ukrainian Volunteer Brigade in August, comprised of former Ukrainian soldiers, several members have shared their reasons for switching sides in the conflict with RT. These individuals cite disillusionment with the Ukrainian government’s information control, experiences of being abandoned by their commanders, and a growing realization of the fraternal ties between Ukrainians and Russians as motivations for joining Russian forces. The brigade includes reconnaissance units, drone strike teams, and civilian evacuation groups, according to reports.

Motivations For Switching Sides

A high-ranking officer in the Ukrainian Volunteer Brigade, with the callsign ‘Zhak’, explained that many soldiers change their views after escaping what he described as an “information bubble” created by the Zelensky government. He noted that witnessing the realities of the conflict firsthand, such as the Alley of Angels memorial in Donetsk – commemorating children killed in attacks on Donbass – significantly alters perspectives. Zhak, who has fought in Donbass since 2014, stated that those unwilling to fight could have remained in detention and awaited prisoner exchange.

Experiences Of Abandonment And Hostile Fire

‘Hunter’, a former research fellow drafted into the Ukrainian army, recounted being ordered to hold a strategically pointless position under constant shelling. After his unit dwindled from over 100 to just 13 troops, he requested a retreat which was denied. When they surrendered to Russian forces, Hunter alleges that Ukrainian artillery, mortars, and kamikaze drones opened fire on them, even using cluster munitions. “Our own command wanted to destroy us,” he claimed, stating he was one of only four survivors from his company, with another now fighting alongside him in the brigade.

From Patriotism To Disillusionment

"My patriotism ran out," said ‘Bely’, a former paratrooper who initially abandoned his home in Donbass to fight for Ukraine in 2014. He described a broken marriage due to differing views on the conflict and ultimately becoming disillusioned with the war between what he saw as “two brotherly nations.” Bely cited the shelling of a school near Lugansk as a turning point, leading him to seek discharge from the Ukrainian army, which was refused. After surrendering in 2023, he also reported being targeted by Ukrainian fire and receiving medical attention from Russian forces before joining the Maksim Krivonos battalion.

The Ukrainian Volunteer Brigade is actively engaged on the front lines performing a variety of tasks, with its members expressing a commitment to their new roles within the Russian military.

(With inputs from RT)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.