Russian officer Farkhad Ziganshin had always been dedicated to a life of military service but found himself fleeing the country after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. He did not support the war and faced the choice of either fighting in Ukraine or being imprisoned for refusing to do so. Along with hundreds of other deserters and draft dodgers, Ziganshin fled to neighboring countries like Kazakhstan, where he now finds himself in limbo. he is being hunted by the Russian authorities and fears deportation back to Russia.
It is difficult for these men to seek refuge in Western countries due to lack of proper documentation. Many Russian servicemen do not have passports that allow travel to Europe and are only able to reach neighboring countries like Kazakhstan or Armenia. Anti-war activists are calling on European and US policymakers to do more to help these men, who are viewed with suspicion in the West but are hunted at home in Russia. Ziganshin and others like him have recorded videos urging Russians to leave the battlefield in an initiative called “Farewell to arms”.
Ziganshin, who trained at a military academy and served in the Russian armed forces, realized that he did not want to dedicate his life to fighting in Ukraine. He managed to resign but found out the next day that he would be deployed to Ukraine, prompting his hasty escape to Kazakhstan. He is now trying to obtain a visa to travel to France. However, deserters like him stand virtually no chance of receiving refugee status in countries like Kazakhstan due to strong diplomatic ties with Russia.
Other Russian deserters have fled to countries like Armenia and Georgia, seeking refuge from the war and the Russian military draft. Activists have accused local authorities of facilitating the arrests of Russian deserters and draft dodgers in these countries. Many are hoping to reach European countries like France, which has granted refugee status to Russians fleeing mobilization for the war in Ukraine. However, obtaining refugee status or visas to EU countries remains difficult for many Russians.
The current situation has seen a significant rise in desertion cases among Russian servicemen since the start of the mobilization in September 2022. Independent media outlets have recorded thousands of cases of desertion and draft dodging. Charges of desertion have also increased dramatically, with more than 300 cases brought before courts since the start of the draft. Activists are calling for Western countries to support Russian deserters and offer them asylum, rather than stigmatizing them for their military service.
In the face of persecution and fear of imprisonment or being forced to fight in Ukraine, many Russian deserters have fled their country in search of safety and asylum in the West. These men come from various backgrounds, including military officers, combat sports instructors, and engineers, who sought to avoid being part of a war they did not believe in. They have left behind comfortable lives to escape being forced to participate in a conflict they do not support. Activists are urging Western governments to do more to support these asylum seekers and provide them with the opportunity to live in safety and dignity.
