Thread by @Mylovanov

Saam, ex Russian soldier now fighting for Ukraine: In most cases, the task in the Russian army is to die.

There is often no concrete objective — take a height, clear an area, or hold a position. Just go forward. 1/

Saam: Many Russian soldiers receive less than two days of training.

They are taken to units and assigned roles by “buyers”: machine gunner, grenade launcher operator, almost even helicopter pilot — though they may never have seen the weapon they are supposed to use. 2/

Saam: In the Russian army, I saw no brotherhood. Everyone tries to survive by any means.

You cannot go forward because death may be waiting there. You cannot go back because death is certainly waiting behind you. 3/

Saam: Russian propaganda said one thing. Local Ukrainians told us something else:

“We were not waiting for you. Everything was fine here. Why did you come? Our children, husbands, sons and fathers are dying.” 4/

Saam: Russian soldiers with light wounds were taken to the medical unit under guard.

After five days, they returned with bandages on their arms, legs and heads and were sent back into meat assaults. 5/

Saam: In Ukraine, a unit will cancel a mission if one soldier’s radio has not been reprogrammed to the new frequencies.

They will not send four people into danger because of a technical problem. They fight for every soldier. 6/

Saam: If you see someone committing a crime and do nothing to stop it, you also become a criminal.

Russia invaded another country where innocent people are dying. I made my choice [switching to Ukraine’s side]. I have no regrets and will have none. 7X

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