The story of an officer of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, who refused to go to war in Ukraine.

Sergey Ivanov (name changed) is an officer of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. He is half Ukrainian, half Russian. He refused to go to war in Ukraine, and now a check is being carried out against the military on the grounds of a crime provided for in Article 332 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation — “refusal to execute an order”, for a period of 2 to 3 years (according to part 2.1 of this article of the Criminal Code). Sergei is ready to go to jail.

“I was born in Russia, but grew up in Ukraine — I lived in the Luhansk region until I was 15. My mother is Ukrainian, my father is Russian.

At school we learned Ukrainian and Russian languages, there were the same number of hours. We always talked to each other in Russian. There was no harassment of Russian speakers, I did not meet anything like that. I grew up there and understand that all those who started it (the war) are far from understanding what is happening, and they certainly did not live in Ukraine. At the age of 15, I moved to Russia with my grandmother, and after school I entered a military school. Then he served, resigned and served again.

“Before the alleged exercises that took place with Belarus, I was transferred to another battalion. Because of this, I did not go there in January 2022.

But, in any case, I would refuse.

Colleagues say: “the district commander gathered everyone, you should have tried to refuse, of course.” And I answer them: “in any case, as they say now, I would not have crossed the ribbon. Under no pretexts.

“On February 24, I was shocked. I didn’t believe it was possible until the last moment. I just realized that the inadequates in power are the people who made such decisions.

At the beginning of March, the combat order for me had already arrived. I immediately said, “I’m not going.” He was called to the commander of the army, went for a conversation in an informal setting. The following dialogue took place:

— Well, would you go? — I grew up there, I’m not going there. — So I grew up there too. — Where are you from, if it’s not a secret?

— I’m from Kharkov. — Moreover, where did you see the Nazis in Kharkov, Comrade Colonel, really?

He looked at me so attentively after that phrase. I don’t know, I think he understands everything, of course. Either because he’s a colonel, he pretends, or maybe he doesn’t really understand.

Although… it’s unlikely that if he grew up there, he should understand, well, what kind of Nazis are there?

And that’s it, he immediately stopped talking, said: everything is clear with you. He called the head of the personnel department and said — write me a refusal. I wrote the refusal in writing. I indicated that I refuse to go for health reasons. He immediately called the head of the medical service, went to the hospital with him, my blood pressure rose to 180. They put me on the VVC. Category “B” was assigned — “limited use”. After that, there was a certification commission in the army staff.

The commission passed, all the documents were sent for dismissal. It was in April. Well, that’s it, I checked in to the military unit every week and waited for dismissal due to violation of the terms of the contract. They kept trying to persuade me all the time. I repeated: “I definitely refuse to participate in this.”

So it came to July, I waited for my minimum length of service. Went to ask why you’re not firing me? They started checking and said: again, you need to go through a new commission, those documents were returned back. I went back every time and reminded them to fire me and hold a commission. As a result, the commission was held at the end of August. Then I immediately submitted a report for dismissal, it was signed taking into account that I would take my entire vacation off.

During the vacation, mobilization happens. In October, he came out of vacation and also waited for dismissal, appeared in the unit a day later. I started to get sick, it was like that until January. In January, they called and said: “we need to go to a position at the military commandant’s office in <…> (the Russian-occupied city of Ukraine). It’s like a good position, with a further transfer there. I say, “No, I refuse to go.” They called a staff member with a camera and let me read the official order for departure there under the camera. I listened and said, “Yes, that’s right.” They’re like, “How come you just said you weren’t going?” I say, “Well, you didn’t give me the order, did you? And after listening to the order, according to the statute, the soldier replies: “yes.”

I did this so as not to simplify their work: so that they would not be regarded as sabotage. Well, that’s it, I told them: “I’m going to prepare for a business trip, there are no problems, I’m going there.” And I immediately went to the hospital, I had a severe back pain.

Then, when they stopped filming, the commander of the unit told me: “how much can you fool us, you’re getting paid all this time?” I say, “Look, I’ve said since March that I’m not going. I agreed to resign, without a pension, without anything at all. You didn’t fire me— it was your negligence. I didn’t run, I said: I’m not going, because I grew up there, I have relatives there, and in general I won’t go there with a gun.

He was like, “Well, we sent the documents, the district didn’t fire him. You’re not going to the front, but to the rear. We’re not cheating.” I answer: “yes, you don’t understand, I’m not afraid to go to the front or somewhere, I just won’t go that way in any military status. That’s it.” He said it without a camera. Again, so that they do not simplify their work and do not add articles to themselves.

Now there are only 4 people from our unit of such people with me — who refused to go to Ukraine. Few people refuse to go, I’m even surprised, to be honest. At the same time, some refused, having already been there. One of them somehow got out of Ukraine and said: “I’m not going there anymore, even if you judge, at least do something with me.” I replied to him: “and for this it was necessary to go there to understand this?”

There are many dead colleagues. My good friend, an officer, and three children died. Another one died—he had just had a baby. When something like this happens, of course, I feel sorry for it as a human being. But I understand: What were they doing there? Everyone has a choice. As a human being, I feel sorry, but everyone had a choice.

I don’t think people are going because they believe in this propaganda. It seems to me that the soldiers are just used to it — an order is an order, plus many are very afraid of prison.

But I don’t understand why people choose to die or remain disabled rather than go to prison.

Nevertheless, propaganda, it turns out, played a big role. I didn’t think it worked that way. I haven’t watched TV for many years, but it turns out that it worked that way. I also have active Z-“patriots” among my distant relatives in Russia. We don’t communicate with them. Thank God, my wife fully supports me, otherwise, I do not know what would have happened. Parents, of course, are also supportive. My mom and dad and I have lived in both Ukraine and Russia, so we understand the difference. The difference, it seems to me, is still in freethinking, in the fact that people there are freer than here. This is generally visible at all levels.

The materials of the inspection against me were sent to the prosecutor’s office. The case has not yet been initiated, but the check is carried out on the grounds of a crime provided for in Article 332 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation — “refusal to execute an order”, there is a period of 2 to 3 years (according to part 2.1 of this article of the Criminal Code).

I’ve already tuned in right away, since I’ve decided so, I’ll probably have to sit down. In my case, no matter how paradoxical it may sound, you need to get a real term in order to leave the army. Because if they give you a suspended sentence, then, according to the law, you are obliged to continue to serve.

Therefore, my plans are to get a term, serve time, quit and leave here. Anyway, we have to leave. I have children, they have a future to make. And myself too.”