During the last year, many employees of the Russian border guard and other services refused to fight in Ukraine and submitted their resignations. The Russian opposition publication “Verstka” reports that at least 1,793 people refused to join the war, but it is likely that there are many more such people. “Delphi” talked to one of them – Ivan Petrov (name changed), a former border guard who knew about the upcoming war even before February 24, 2022, and refused to participate in it.
When did you find out that you plan to send to Ukraine? After February 24th?
Faster, already at the beginning of February. Everyone knew what was being planned, we knew that there would be a mobilization in September. In our institution, everyone was informed about it a long time ago, the officers were prepared for the fact that new employees may have to be trained. When they started sending us there [Ukrainu], we were not encouraged to engage in combative activities. He said that we will go to protect some kind of border. I refused to go, and they told me this – if you won’t go, write a letter of resignation.
Why did you refuse?
First, I was in the service to protect [savu] country rather than attacking other countries. Second, Ukraine is our ally, my cousins live there. It is a brotherly nation, both figuratively and literally. I can end up on the same front line as my cousin – why is that necessary?
So you refused to go to Ukraine before the war even started?
Yes.
