War in Ukraine and emotional scars on Russian men

War leaves emotional scars not only on those attacked, but also on people supporting the aggressor. Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which began in February 2022, has resulted in the loss of life and injury to both Ukrainian soldiers and civilians. Yet, the conflict has also forced many Russian men to flee their homeland to avoid compulsory military service.

Some of these individuals have found refuge in South Korea. In 2023, Korean news outlets reported on Russian asylum seekers who had been stranded for months at Incheon International Airport, unable to enter the country in search of protection. However, these stories seemed to fade from public attention and even from the reporter's memory relatively soon after.

It wasn't until June, four years after the invasion started, that the reporter encountered a self-proclaimed Russian asylum seeker in Seoul. The man in question was Nima Tsybikov, a 54-year-old Buryat ethnic minority from Russia whose hometown is situated near the Mongolian border. During their meeting, Tsybikov expressed a desire to discuss the ongoing war in Ukraine with the reporter.

As he spoke to the reporter that day and reviewed his WhatsApp messages, he shared his experiences and perspectives on the conflict, providing a unique insight into the emotional impact of war on Russian men, even those who oppose Russia's actions.