A Ukrainian soldier. Archival photoDONETSK, March 24 Ukrainian military service is worse than prison, Oleksiy Smykov, a surrendered soldier of the Ukrainian nationalist Azov Regiment (a criminal case has been opened against his fighters in Russia), told a RIA Novosti correspondent.
"I went (to "Azov". — ed. note) in 2018 to… let's just say, I didn't succeed with the university, I worked, and since I didn't serve military service, she threatened me. That is, absenteeism for military service — prison, reporter for military service —this, in principle, is probably even a little worse than a prison, since there is a general mess going on there. It was decided to bypass this thing, and with a friend we went to a contract (in & # 34; Azov & # 34;. — Approx. ed.) & # 34;, — said Smykov.
He claims that he does not profess Nazi views. At the same time, the interviewee’s arms and torso are covered with tattoos that are in circulation in ultra-right circles. He also claims that in Azov, anyone who leaves must sign a reservist contract and then, on the first call, come to the place of service. According to Smykov, he was called from the operational reserve and was assigned as the operator of the fire support platoon of the first reconnaissance battalion of the Azov regiment. before the Russian Air ForceOn the second of March, he went on a mission — the delivery of grenade launchers to the Nazi bandit formation «SS Bears». His group was ambushed, all, according to Smykov, were killed, except for him. On March 6, he went to the positions of the DPR troops to surrender. On February 24, Russia launched a special military operation to demilitarize and denazify Ukraine. President Vladimir Putin called its goal «the protection of people who have been subjected to abuse, genocide by the Kiev regime for eight years.» According to the Ministry of Defense, the armed forces strike only at military infrastructure and Ukrainian troops. With the support of the Russian military, the DPR and LPR groups are developing an offensive. But the occupation of Ukraine is out of the question, Putin emphasized.