'They will simply kill my son' — Prominent Ukrainian volunteer claims FSB blackmail, travels to Russia

Prominent Ukrainian volunteer Mykhailo Puryshev claims he was blackmailed by Russia's security service, the FSB, into providing cooperation. Puryshev warned that the FSB threatened to conscript his son into the Russian army if he did not comply with their demands. Puryshev presented two options: either cooperate with the FSB, who would protect his son, or refuse to cooperate and face the consequences of his son's death.

Puryshev, a native of the occupied Mariupol region, has four children, with two residing in Russia from a previous marriage and two others in Ukraine. Puryshev decided to travel to Russia in an effort to save his son's life. In his social media post, Puryshev recorded an alleged conversation with a Russian agent who threatened his son if he did not cooperate.

The agent allegedly warned Puryshev to prevent his son from enlisting in the Russian army, comparing the situation to his son potentially facing his former allies in a battlefield. Puryshev subsequently posted a second video stating that he had arrived in Russia to save his son. Known for his efforts in evacuating Ukrainian civilians from Mariupol during the early stages of Russia's invasion and his ongoing volunteer work in frontline communities, Puryshev's claims have raised concerns about the potential risks faced by civilians in the war-torn nation.