The Deserter: Parts 4 and 5

Ivan tried various tactics to avoid being sent back to the front line after surviving the initial invasion

Ivan shrewdly decides to feign a herniated disc that he had suffered from years earlier. He methodically exaggerates his pain during a medical examination, yelping prematurely to suggest the severity of his discomfort. He strategically claims that wearing his body armor worsens his pain and insists on surgery as the only solution, hoping it will grant him a reprieve from redeployment. With consistent practice, he refines his exaggerated limping, utilizing props like a solid black cane with a retractable spike to heighten the authenticity of his ruse. Ivan is set on appearing disabled enough to convince the military doctors. He even goes as far as to recall the gait of a colleague named Roman to make his act more convincing, ensuring his limp and grimaces signal a dire need for surgery.

Ivan communicates his back pain concern to the base's personnel, presenting his situation as needing urgent surgical attention and claiming an injection can temporarily alleviate his pain. He privately maintains his charade, moving without assistance while safely inside his apartment. At the field hospital, he leverages the term "hernia," which persuades the medic to place him on a list promising further medical evaluation.

Realizing the importance of a compelling story, Ivan tells others that he had been advised to have surgery even before the war, aiming to solidify his account. He consistently rehearses his behavior to better sell the severity of his condition. With the medical evidence suggesting surgery and his six-month reliance on a cane, Ivan convinces a doctor to recommend the operation. In an effort to bolster his case, he contacts his mother's acquaintance, a military neurosurgeon, seeking assistance in solidifying his ploy to avoid the horrors of redeployment.

Ivan carefully planned and executed a complex scheme to swap his real passport with a forged one to facilitate his escape

In a strategic twist, Ivan crafts a meticulous plan to forge his passport, using Photoshop to alter his appearance and paying for a high-quality counterfeit document. With his understanding of the HR office's procedures, Ivan conceives a daring in-person pas ...

The article details how Ivan and his family braved considerable risks to flee Russia for a safer country where they could seek asylum, following Ivan's direct involvement in conflict.

Ivan navigated numerous challenges and checkpoints to cross the Belarus border and reach Turkey

Ivan managed to carefully navigate his way through Belarus with tactical planning. He was warned to use only his domestic passport to avoid additional checks, especially at the Minsk airport, where security systems were closely synchronized with Russia's. Ivan also made diligent moves to cover his tracks, such as purchasing his train ticket with cash to avoid a digital trace and portraying himself as a web designer on vacation rather than revealing his military involvement.

At the Minsk airport, Ivan took strategic steps to ensure a smooth passage. He picked the passport control line with a lady who seemed soft-hearted and had a quick-moving line. Even when the officer's computer froze, which he feared was a check against a database for service members not allowed to leave, Ivan remained composed and eventually was let through due to a wider computer system issue.

Ivan faced the risk of being swindled or robbed as he arranged onward travel from Turkey to his final destination

Ivan's journey continued to be riddled with risk, as he narrowly avoided a swindle involving a fake plane ticket and subsequent flight reservations that weren't properly booked. He painstakingly managed to confront the swindler and secured a genuine ticket to Turkey, but his onward travel remained uncertain.

Anna, Ivan's wife, also faced dangers and difficulties in preparing for their escape and relocation

Concurrently, Anna was preparing for their escape and eventual relocation. She pursued cosmetology, knowing that they had to relocate to a non-extradition country. Anna's resolve was tested when an unknown man approached her, insinuated threats towards Ivan, and suggested violent consequences. Despite the intimidation, she remained determined, and soon they were both on their way to escape the imminent threat.

Ivan and his family ultimately reached a safe country where they could seek asylum, despite the ever-present threat of being tracked down by Russian authorities

They lived in constant fear and paranoia, even after successfully fleeing ...

The war in Ukraine has led to an uptick in desertions from the Russian military, but deserters face severe consequences and significant challenges in finding refuge and legal status abroad.

Desertion from the Russian military has become increasingly common during the invasion of Ukraine, but the consequences can be severe

Men forced to fight in the initial invasion or who tried unsuccessfully to break their contracts and fled are at risk of severe consequences if caught by the Russian authorities. Punishments for desertion can include long prison sentences. There are constant rumors about another round of mobilization and fears of a barring order preventing men from leaving Russia. Examples include Mikhail Zhilin, a Federal Guard Service Officer who was arrested and deported back to Russia from Kazakhstan after requesting asylum and was sentenced to six and a half years in prison for desertion and illegal border crossing.

Under Russian law, deserters can only be punished if there's an intent to desert permanently. Soldiers can be away from base for a long period before being charged with being AWOL, carrying a shorter sentence than desertion. Commanding officers may avoid officially declaring a subordinate as AWOL, which sometimes allows deserters to continue receiving their full salary for months without being formally charged.

The conversation also touches on strategies used to flush deserters from their homes, like cutting electricity, and forceful methods used to apprehend deserters and bring them to the military service location (SVO). The man who approached Anna suggested that deserters take drastic actions to escape, further implying the grave risk of long prison terms for deserters.

Deserters who manage to flee Russia often face difficulties obtaining asylum or legal status in other countries

Examples are provided of deserters who faced extreme challenges escaping Russia due to lack of documentation and threats of retaliation. Deserters have attempted measures as desperate as mutilation to avoid service. Defection is portrayed as very dangerous, especially for former regime members, with stories of people being kidnapped or detained even after reaching assumed safety.

Compounding these difficulties is the reluctance of European countries to offer asylum due to fears of spies or infiltrators. Deserters have faced difficulties in boarding planes and securing visas, even ...