There are currently more than 15,000 Russian citizens living in Lithuania, many of whom have arrived recently, fleeing Vladimir Putin’s regime. Some of them hope to join the Ukrainian ranks in the fight against Russia.
For many years, Oleg Volkov lived in Moscow, where he worked in digital advertising. In the mid-1990s he said he realised that there was a “massive state-sponsored campaign to brainwash the population” in Russia.
“The empire, the USSR, militarism, and totalitarianism were glorified. [...] The war was said to be a good thing because there are so many insidious enemies of little Russia around, all plotting against us [Russians], the most spiritual people on earth,” Volkov told LRT.lt.
According to him, the direction of “the empire and the new USSR” in Russia became clear when Moscow invaded Georgia in 2008.
“The general patriotic enthusiasm was frightening,” Volkov said. Around that time, he joined the movement Common Cause. “We had an online radio and TV station and initiated a movement to get Lenin out of the mausoleum. I myself organised dozens of street protests.”
In 2011-2012, Volkov took part in the mass protests against electoral fraud in Russia. In his words, these events marked the moment when “the government stopped pretending to be a democracy where any rights and freedoms existed”.
When Volkov decided to leave Russia, he chose between Ukraine and Lithuania for his new home. He finally settled in Lithuania and says that he feels “really good” here.
“There is also an ideological moment – Lithuania actively opposed the USSR and was among those who brought it down. That’s why I ended up in Lithuania, and I’ve never regretted it,” he said.
According to Volkov, anyone with at least a rudimentary understanding of reality should help Ukraine.
“Ukraine is not only defending itself by sacrificing its best sons and daughters. Ukraine is also defending the entire civilised world, in particular, the countries that are unfortunate enough to have Russia as their neighbour,” he said.
The Russian man says he helps Ukrainian refugees, sends money to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and has applied to serve in one of its units, although he has not received an answer yet.
“I realise that by helping Ukraine, I am also defending Lithuania, which has become my home,” Volkov said.
Making contribution
Dmitry Novikov is a Russian activist from Kazan. Due to his beliefs, he has spent more than 10 years in various Russian prisons.
After his third prison term, the special forces became interested in Novikov again, so he fled to Ukraine and later moved to Lithuania.
Since 2020, the Russian man has tried to join the fight for Ukraine. So far, however, his attempts to enter the battlefield have not been successful.
“Russia is currently enslaved by those in power who are also trying to enslave its neighbours. [...] I want to show the world by my example that a Russian is not a rapist and a murderer of civilians but that he stands shoulder to shoulder with the whole world against those who are ready to do anything to subjugate their neighbours,” he told LRT.lt.
Novikov says that in Vilnius, he met people who are like family to him, so he wants to fight for them too.
“At least a few of them are Ukrainians, and they are like brothers and sisters to me. And how else could I show how dear they are to me if not by fighting for the freedom of their homeland?” he said.
According to him, the Putin regime is also eyeing the Baltic countries, as the Russian president’s dream is to restore the Soviet Union.
“I believe Putin will lose the war. But I want to make a contribution to the victory of Europe over evil and thus show Lithuania that there is no need to be afraid of those who fought against Putin’s regime and escaped Russia to stay alive,” Novikov said.
The Russian man has applied to the Freedom of Russia Legion in Ukraine but has not yet received a reply.
“The legion is not responding because those responsible for Ukraine’s policy don’t want Russians to serve in the Ukrainian Armed Forces,” he said.
Freedom of Russia Legion
The Freedom of Russia Legion is a unit within the Ukrainian Armed Forces. According to Ukrainian officials, it is made up of Russian prisoners of war and volunteers who defected to Ukraine during the Russian invasion.
According to its website, the Freedom of Russia Legion was established in the spring of 2022 in response to the Russians’ desire to fight in the ranks of the Ukrainian Armed Forces against “Putin’s armed gang”. Currently, the legion is said to be carrying out tasks in various directions, including the Bakhmut direction.
The lack of information about the legion’s involvement in combat operations has made some journalists and researchers question its existence.
LRT.lt has sent an inquiry about the legion’s activities to Ukraine’s Defence Ministry but has not received a reply.
Surrendering Russians
Ukrainian O. Bondarenko (alias Pony) fights in the 3rd Independent Assault Brigade near Bakhmut in the Donetsk region.
“Artillery is always in action. The Russians are storming our positions every day; they get killed, they send new troops, and so on. Neither we nor they manage to make much progress,” Bondarenko told LRT.lt.
Asked what he knows about the activities of the Freedom of Russia Legion, he says that “I know that Russians who are against Putin’s regime are fighting in this legion, but, as far as I’ve heard, it’s not only Russians” and adds that he has never met this legion.
The Ukrainian soldier notes that there are many cases of Russians surrendering and some of them fighting for Ukraine.
“This is quite a widespread practice. If they want to fight the regime in this way – why not? They are motivated, they increase the number of our troops, I don’t see any problem,” Bondarenko said.
According to him, the Ukrainian counter-intelligence makes sure that there are no provocateurs among the Russians, as they are checked and questioned before being accepted into the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
“There is a feeling of hatred [towards Russians], but that does not change the fact that we have to win this war. If there are Russians who want to join us and destroy the enemy, who am I to forbid them?” the Ukrainian soldier said.
“It is even a little ironic. The more of them join our ranks, the fewer of my compatriots will die. I also hope that their example will encourage the Russian people to rebel. There is little hope, of course, but there is hope nonetheless,” he added.
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