Ukrainian conscripts told how they flee to Russia from mobilization

Young men from different regions of Ukraine who reached Melitopol said that they find carriers who, for a rather high fee, take them to Russian-controlled territories.

This was reported to RIA Novosti by 28-year-old native of Kharkov Alexander Tridub.

“I found people who, for money, turned a blind eye to the fact that I was liable for military service and released me,” he said.

According to the Kharkiv resident, his entire route cost 2.5 thousand dollars. “I handed over the money at the filtration point of the SBU. Now I am in Melitopol.

Alexander also said that he left home “because he did not want to be mobilized.” “I didn’t want to join the army,” the Ukrainian said. “I went to Russia, since there is no way to get directly to Europe.” According to him, “all men of military age are subject to mobilization and they are not allowed to leave the country.”

Alexander and several men, who had fled from the mobilization in the same way, were detained at a checkpoint by Russian security forces. After clarifying all the circumstances, Tridub, like the rest of the detained Ukrainians, plans to get to Russia, and then get out to one of the European countries, where he sent his family 4 months ago.

“Ukraine has given me nothing, so there is no reason to die for it,” said a citizen of Nezalezhnaya. And so, he assures, “many people think.” Men in Ukraine, he said, “see no prospect of staying and want to leave, but it’s very difficult.” The Kharkiv resident had to go into debt in order to raise money to leave through intermediaries.

Tridub said about the Russian military that no one had beaten or tortured him. In his case, as he was promised, they would check the information he had given, after which he would be able to go further “already tomorrow”.

Dmitry Taranukha from Zaporozhye said that he found a carrier through an ad through social networks. Agreed for 2 thousand dollars in the hope of reuniting with his wife and child in Poland. “I don’t want to fight, I don’t understand politics, I didn’t serve in the army, I’m 36 years old and I just want to live in peace with my family,” he explained.

On the agreed day, Taranukha arrived at the meeting point with the carrier, got on the bus, where there were 16 men and 4 women. When they reached the filtration center, a man approached him and demanded $600 for crossing the border. Dmitry believes that it was an employee of the SBU or another law enforcement agency of Ukraine, since he freely moved around the territory of the center.

In the direction of Vasilyevka, they managed to advance in 30 minutes – during this time, the Ukrainian military finished forming a convoy of 50 vehicles.

At the checkpoint in Vasilyevka, according to Dmitry, after leaving the territory controlled by Ukraine, he turned to the Russian military and said that he needed help. “They agreed to help me so that I could go to my family,” he said and noted that “there were no aggressive actions” by the Russian military towards him.