Dismayed by Moscow’s war, Russian volunteers are joining Ukrainian ranks to fight Putin

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When Russia’s invasion of Ukraine ignited into war, back in Moscow, a young Russian who now goes by the name of Karabas was plunged into despair. Shocked by images of what was happening to Ukrainians in Russian-occupied areas, he decided to act — against Russia, his home and country.

Karabas said he knew that what he was doing was drastic. He packed his bags and decided to find a way to get to Ukraine to join the ranks of Kyiv’s troops fighting Russian forces.

It took him almost a year to make it happen.

Today, he is part of the Siberian Battalion, a unit made up of Russians who have joined Ukrainian military ranks to fight against their homeland, hoping someday to help oust Russian President Vladimir Putin. Its members hail mostly from ethnic minorities from Russia’s far east.

Putin worries and speaks about The Fifth Column, the danger of an organized underground group of Russians, meant to subvert his power and destabilize his government. But this is even worse than that. These are actual Russian citizens, unhappy with Putin's leadership, willing to give their own lives to fight against him. Not only that, but it is out in the open, there is no subversion about it. The other Russians can see this happening. Will some who see it find courage and follow suit?

These fighters spend a lot of time getting vetted, making sure they are not there for the wrong reasons. As the article explains, they have to go through a year of clearance checks, interviews, and if they pass, then they go off to training.

Unlike other volunteer units in Ukraine that have Russian nationals — such as the Freedom of Russia Legion and the Russian Volunteer Corps — the Siberian Battalion is officially part of the regular Ukrainian army.

Its fighters undergo lengthy security checks, which sometimes take up to a year, before they are trained and deployed to the front lines in eastern Ukraine, which has seen some of the most ferocious fighting of the war and where Ukrainian and Russian forces are locked in a grinding battle for control.

And their only goal is to help bring down Putin's government and help bring Russia back into democracy, bring freedom and prosperity... for all, not just Putin's friends and oligarchs.

That takes some guts. More power to them.

Celebrate the traitors.
Why doesn't this surprise me about you?
You purport to be all 'freedom and democracy ' but people like you are Americas fifth coloum and will be the end of freedom and democracy.
Your cold war hatred of USSR burns bright.

originally posted by: glen200376
Celebrate the traitors.
Why doesn't this surprise me about you?
You purport to be all 'freedom and democracy ' but people like you are Americas fifth coloum and will be the end of freedom and democracy.
Your cold war hatred of USSR burns bright.

Absolutely. Why aren't you celebrating it?

Ukraine is our ally. Russsia is attacking Ukraine. That makes them not a friend, in the very least.

Additionally, they are always attacking our infrastructure, hospitals, hacking and bringing down our networks and businesses, they claim they have interfered in our elections and openly say they will continue to do so. Russian intel agents have been indicted, in absentia, for cyber attacking our businesses. Also for election tampering.

These are enemy actions.

Why, in the world, would I not celebrate our enemy getting weaker and their own people rising up against them?

Every person, other than Russians, should be celebrating this.

And I use that word knowing exactly what it means -- enemy.

enemy
noun
en·e·my ˈe-nə-mē
plural enemies
Synonyms of enemy
1
: one that is antagonistic to another
especially : one seeking to injure, overthrow, or confound an opponent
2
: something harmful or deadly
3
a
: a military adversary
b
: a hostile unit or force

Fits every definition.

What's your exact problem with these news? Not me for posting it; what's your problem with these news?

a reply to: Mahogani

As an Australian, it’s a shame but, I would fight with Russia against the Ukrainians and the US
That’s how far I see the US has slipped as a moral, righteous country
Greed corruption and a government that seized power from the people

Soviet USA it seems
What happened

a reply to: Creaky


It seems, that facts can be ignored easily.

I like, how Mahogany goes in details with the facts, and facts are facts.

Hey Creaky,

go and fight for Putin, go !

And you can be sure,
it's not for the sake of Russia.

originally posted by: Creaky
That’s how far I see the US has slipped as a moral, righteous country

... and you think Russia is a 'moral and righteous country'??? Really? It's not. The thing is, the United States has free speech so we are open and discussing our problems. In Russia, if you discuss corruption or bad things you get thrown in jail or you get dead.

a reply to: glen200376

Like a true communist you always have sympathy for them.
Your hatred for America doesn't surprise me at all.

originally posted by: Creaky
a reply to: Mahogani

As an Australian, it’s a shame but, I would fight with Russia against the Ukrainians and the US
That’s how far I see the US has slipped as a moral, righteous country
Greed corruption and a government that seized power from the people

Soviet USA it seems
What happened

What morality does Russia have that’s unique?

As far as corruption, how has Putin gotten his wealth? He’s at least the richest leader in the world and maybe the richest man. Take a look at the oligarchs, you have to be buddies with him, and if you’re not you find a cell to live in if you haven’t already fallen out of a window.

Soviet USA eh? That’s cute, I still have more freedom than a current day Russian much less a Soviet. Hell, I probably have more than an Australian.

originally posted by: Creaky
a reply to: Mahogani

As an Australian, it’s a shame but, I would fight with Russia against the Ukrainians and the US
That’s how far I see the US has slipped as a moral, righteous country
Greed corruption and a government that seized power from the people

Soviet USA it seems
What happened

What morality does Russia have that’s unique?

As far as corruption, how has Putin gotten his wealth? He’s at least the richest leader in the world and maybe the richest man. Take a look at the oligarchs, you have to be buddies with him, and if you’re not you find a cell to live in if you haven’t already fallen out of a window.

Soviet USA eh? That’s cute, I still have more freedom than a current day Russian much less a Soviet. Hell, I probably have more than an Australian.

a reply to: CriticalStinker

That’s cute, doesn’t change my opinion re how far the US has slipped under Biden

originally posted by: lotusaugen
a reply to: Creaky
Hey Creaky,

go and fight for Putin, go !

And you can be sure,
it's not for the sake of Russia.

Who’s facts
The US left enough weapons in Afghanistan to arm a small country and then some
Has started so many wars, how many have Russia been active in the last 10 years compared to the US
Stole an election
Crashed planes into buildings
Corrupted it’s own economy while allowing criminals to flood the border

None of what has happened has been for the sake of the US either, just the criminal political families who control it
Trump, most probably the only politician who did care and what happened, the political crime families got rid of him

But you are right, I did err, I won’t, don’t want to fight. If I had to choose sides, it wouldn’t be on Europe’s most corrupt country, Ukraine side

If not already, globally, the US will be seen as a joke lead by a clown
I pity the US, most have bought the lie
Only a few here see the truth

originally posted by: FlyersFan

originally posted by: Creaky
That’s how far I see the US has slipped as a moral, righteous country

... and you think Russia is a 'moral and righteous country'??? Really? It's not. The thing is, the United States has free speech so we are open and discussing our problems. In Russia, if you discuss corruption or bad things you get thrown in jail or you get dead.

I disagree with your opinion
Obama and Clinton seem to have a trail of dead bodies in their wake, no different from Those Russian “monsters”
The US mutilates children, Russia doesn’t
There is lots but, no point
Welcome to your opinion

originally posted by: Creaky
a reply to: CriticalStinker

That’s cute, doesn’t change my opinion re how far the US has slipped under Biden

Well, make sure to train up on your boomerang and maybe firearms if you have a loisense. Good luck fighting with the ruskies, might want to bring your own supplies (no NATO stuff allowed since you hate it so much). Maybe check out some Chinese or North Korean surplus.

originally posted by: Mahogani

originally posted by: glen200376
Celebrate the traitors.
Why doesn't this surprise me about you?
You purport to be all 'freedom and democracy ' but people like you are Americas fifth coloum and will be the end of freedom and democracy.
Your cold war hatred of USSR burns bright.

Absolutely. Why aren't you celebrating it?

Ukraine is our ally. Russsia is attacking Ukraine. That makes them not a friend, in the very least.

Ukraine is a parasite sucking the last bits of life from our nation. People like you have been so propagandized to believe Russia actually poses a threat to your way of life.

Can you give me an example that doesn't include internet troll-farms?

Hate to break it to you sport but your own government hates you more than Putin and Russia. If you keep this up it will only be a matter of time before you are asked to pay a price in blood to the war criminals you are aligning with.

On a side note your story is definitely propaganda. Like the ghost of Kiev and every other lie you people think is reality.

a reply to: JAY1980

Dont be fool he's a paid propaganda troll

originally posted by: JAY1980

originally posted by: Mahogani

originally posted by: glen200376
Celebrate the traitors.
Why doesn't this surprise me about you?
You purport to be all 'freedom and democracy ' but people like you are Americas fifth coloum and will be the end of freedom and democracy.
Your cold war hatred of USSR burns bright.

Absolutely. Why aren't you celebrating it?

Ukraine is our ally. Russsia is attacking Ukraine. That makes them not a friend, in the very least.

Hate to break it to you sport but your own government hates you more than Putin and Russia. If you keep this up it will only be a matter of time before you are asked to pay a price in blood to the war criminals you are aligning with.

On a side note your story is definitely propaganda. Like the ghost of Kiev and every other lie you people think is reality.

Kiev, eh? The old Russian spelling that no one uses but Russians any more.

So you are Russian, as I expected.

And "our nation" at the top refers to Russia?

a reply to: glen200376

"Your cold war hatred of USSR burns bright."

As does yours for all things West.

"People like you"? Says it all, really.

Putin is not rooting for freedom and democracy, by the way. He's on the other side of that.

originally posted by: JAY1980
Ukraine is a parasite sucking the last bits of life from our nation.

Which nation do you call 'our' nation?

a reply to: JAY1980

"Can you give me an example that doesn't include internet troll-farms?"

An example of what?

Is Putin not attacking Ukraine?

Have they not threatened to nuke the UK?

Many times by Medvedev, by the way. Sport.

a reply to: JAY1980

"the war criminals you are aligning with.".

Oh, the irony....

Your hero Putin is a massive war criminal, by the way.