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Conscripted Soldiers Reveal Harrowing Tales of Combat Evasion

9/27/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Vasilyev, a Russian conscript, deployed to Ukraine in March 2022 after initial refusal.
He witnessed pillaging and detention of local men.
He shot himself in the foot to avoid combat and was discharged with help from a sympathetic doctor.
Zvezdov, another conscript, describes torture for resistors, threats of deployment, self-harm thoughts, and signing a contract under pressure in September 2024.

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Story summary

Vasilyev, a Russian conscript, deployed to Ukraine in March 2022 after initial refusal.
He witnessed pillaging and detention of local men.
He shot himself in the foot to avoid combat and was discharged with help from a sympathetic doctor.
Zvezdov, another conscript, describes torture for resistors, threats of deployment, self-harm thoughts, and signing a contract under pressure in September 2024.