The Deserter: Parts 1-3

The personal narrative of a Russian soldier, Ivan, with nearly 20 years of military service, unveils the experiences and challenges of being drafted into the Ukraine war and the personal, ethical, and psychological aspects of combat.

Russian soldier Ivan is drafted into the Ukraine war despite his efforts to avoid it

Ivan had hoped to end his military service and pursue a civilian career, taking coding classes online and setting up a bitcoin mining business. However, despite his efforts to avoid combat, including citing health issues and accumulating over 300 days of owed overtime, his retraining enrollment was canceled potentially due to his commander's intervention. When faced with deployment, Ivan considered his options: refusing orders and risk jail—though fearing he would still be sent to war as a convict—or comply and fight. His attempts to fight his dismissal in court showed his determination to stay out of the conflict.

Ivan is reluctant to participate in the war and tries to find ways to avoid combat, including citing health issues and challenging his commander's orders

Ivan's lack of enthusiasm for the war was clear. His reluctance was evident when he was slow to acknowledge an order to deploy, and although he did not refuse outright, he negotiated to stay away from frontline duty, utilizing a herniated disc among other health reasons as a plea. However, Ivan's unwillingness to participate made him a potential target for dismissal or punishment from his superiors. His strategy included trying to appear problematic to the army by submitting paperwork for his overtime.

Despite his attempts, Ivan is ultimately sent to the front lines, where he grapples with the moral and personal quandaries of fighting this war

The ethical and personal turmoil that Ivan faced was exacerbated by his eventual deployment. He was sent to Ukraine with contract soldiers, where he experienced the horrors of war, including the loss of comrades and the necessity of leaving bodies behind to save the living.

Ivan's platoon of newly mobilized and undertrained Russian soldiers struggle to carry out their combat missions

Ivan led a platoon of contract soldiers, many of whom were inexperienced and lacked combat training. They faced tactical errors and resource shortages, which tested their morale and ability to fight.

Ivan tries to train and lead his inexperienced platoon, but they face numerous challenges and setbacks, including equipment shortages and tactical blunders

Ivan's platoon was inadequately equipped and trained. Desperate for survival, his platoon purchased extra gear with their own money and faced hard choices such as abandoning wounded soldiers. They suffered immense casualties in their attempts to capture a territory called "the boot," well-defended by Ukrainian forces.

Ivan and his men are forced to improvise and make difficult decisions in the chaos of battle, such as abandoning fallen comrades to survive

Ivan’s men, referred to with call signs and described as "decent men," illustrated the diversity within the platoon and their reasons for joining, such as securing a better future for their families. They found themselves having to adapt to conditions on the battlefield, making do with what resources they had and often engaging in defensive efforts to preserve their lives, such as retreating under cover of darkness.

Ivan's wartime experiences deeply impact his personal life and relationships back home

Ivan's wife, Anna, faced her own battles on the home front, grieving her husband's deployment and seeking ways to assist him to escape combat. Her experience reflects the social pressure many Russian families face and the propaganda within the ...

The situation in the Russian military and government is characterized by endemic corruption, mismanagement, and coercion, according to revelations from various sources.

Widespread corruption and mismanagement plague the Russian armed forces

The Russian military is riddled with graft, with commanders embezzling funds and resources meant for their soldiers

Reports have surfaced of widespread theft within the Russian military, affecting everything from gear to fuel. Soldiers like Ivan found themselves in a camp littered with trash, potentially endangering their position and forced to augment their own equipment—indicative of ill-supply. A commander known as 'Pig' was reported to pocket rations and sell state-subsidized fuel for personal gain. These practices reflect theft permeating every level of the armed forces, with Sergei Friedinsky, a Russian military prosecutor, describing the scale of theft as astonishing. Estimates suggest up to 50% of the defense budget could be stolen.

Reforms intended to professionalize the military have been undermined by a culture of appearance over substance

A decade of reforms under Defense Minister Anatoly Serdukov, dubbed New Look, intended to professionalize the military, were half-completed and never fully integrated into military culture. The military’s focus has shifted to facade over functionality, with increased choreographed strategic exercises that prioritize appearance. Consequently, soldiers like Ivan were left wasting time on non-essential tasks such as painting grass green, instead of meaningful training and preparation for combat.

Soldiers are tasked with meaningless bureaucratic duties rather than meaningful training and preparation for combat

The military emphasis on metrics and photo reports led to wasting time on needless bureaucratic chores rather than combat training. Soldiers spent excessive time posing for photo ops rather than training. The need to document activities with photographs on the same day they occurred strained commanders and deprived soldiers of valuable training time.

The Russian government relies on coercion and propaganda to sustain the war effort

The Kremlin implements harsh laws to punish dissent and criticism of the military, silencing opposition

The Kremlin has created a coercive environment against criticism by implementing harsh laws, including a fast-tracked law imposing up to 15-year jail terms for spreading "fake news" about the armed forces. Criticism of Russian government actions abroad is effectively banned, evidenced by the illegalization of calling events in Ukraine a "war" or an "invasion." After the invasion of Ukraine, over 13,000 protesters were detained, and many faced administrative arrests and criminal charges.

Patriotic indoctrination campaigns target Russian citizens, especially children, to build support for the war

The government has initiated a patriotic indoctrination campaign, particularly focusing on children. School children are taught military skills, provided history textbooks with modified information, and encouraged to support the war symbolically. The government’s propaganda campaign has also included television ads recruiting soldiers and showcasing the families of deceased soldiers to garner public support.

The chaotic and ill-planned mobilization effort further erodes public trust in the government

The government's mobilization effort was marked by disorganization, resulting in large-scale protests and diminishing public trust. Numerous recruitment offices were set on fire, and thousands of protesters were arrested. Threats of government prosecution were experienced by citizens like Anna for social media posts, evidencing the growing tension and distrust between the public and the government.

Russian military tactics and leadership demonstrate incompetence and disregard for their own soldiers

Commanders make dubious strategic decisions that needlessly endanger and sacrifice their troops

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The war in Ukraine not only wreaks havoc on the battlefield but also has profound repercussions on Russian society and politics. Sweeping sanctions and an ill-prepared mobilization erode public trust and fuel dissent, while isolation and economic decline threaten the nation's future.

The war exacerbates existing economic and social problems in Russia

In the wake of the West's sweeping sanctions, the Russian ruble plummeted, demonstrating the severe economic blow dealt to the country. Sanctions and the diversion of resources to the war effort drastically worsen living conditions for many Russians. The sudden general mobilization disrupted civilian lives, as men with dependents and debts were drafted, some resorting to alcohol to cope with stress. Families had to buy basic supplies for their conscripted relatives due to insufficient military provisioning, and public acts like setting recruitment offices on fire showcased the deep social unrest taking place.

The war undermines public trust and fuels dissent within Russian society

As the war drags on, public trust in the Russian government dwindles. Soldiers and units fleeing the battlefield and refusing to fight reflect a broader societal resistance despite the risks. Moreover, improvised mobilization and a lack of governmental support stir feelings of betrayal among draftees. Anna's experience with community pressure over Ivan's rumored refusal to participate in the war illustrates the complex interplay between social pressure and dissent. The mass exodus, coupled with thousands of protesters being detained, signals growing public displeasure and fear. Idite Lessam, an organization that supports draft resistance, hints at a larger movement of Russians, including soldiers, actively looking for ways to avoid participating in the war.

The long-term conse ...