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He lived in the ruins of the war and hid from the police: a Russian soldier (42) who stayed behind managed to hide in Ukraine for six months. He spent six months in the city of Kharkiv in eastern Ukraine. According to his own statements, he was afraid to surrender to the Ukrainian army after they regained control of Kharkiv. Returning to Russia unnoticed: impossible.
When the local regional police were patrolling the Kupiansk district, they encountered the Russian soldier. He wore everyday clothes and looked unkempt. Only upon closer inspection did it become clear that the man belonged to the 27th Motorized Rifle Brigade of the Russian army. Originally he came from the Moscow region.
When Ukrainian troops recaptured Kupiansk, he was trapped. He couldn’t go back to Russia. Therefore, the man hid in the city and lived in abandoned buildings. It was the only way out, he said.
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Kupiansk has long been an important hub for Ukraine’s economy due to the location of an important railway hub. After the outbreak of the war, all that changed. Heavy fighting has severely damaged the district.
Within days, the Russians controlled the area and occupied it for several months. Even if Ukraine could recapture Kupiansk, the danger is not over. At the beginning of March, the authorities warned the population of an “unstable security situation” because the Russians had made another attempt to take the district.
It remains a mystery how the man could go unnoticed for so long. After Kharkiv was back in Ukrainian hands, the armed forces conducted a house-to-house search to find any remaining Russian soldiers. The aim was to nip planned acts of sabotage in the bud. (A)
Source: Blick
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
