{
  "id": 2075566,
  "title": "Captured Ukrainian-born soldiers tell BBC why they fought for Russia",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/20/captured-ukrainian-born-soldiers-tell-bbc-why-they-fought-for-russia",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-20T05:01:24.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "BBC News",
    "slug": "bbc-news",
    "url": "https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn9nr195drzo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In Western Ukraine, a camp resides behind high walls and locked gates, housing men captured while fighting for Russia. Many of these soldiers hail from big cities like St. Petersburg and Yekaterinburg, as well as less affluent regions at the outset of the invasion. Among them are Ukrainian-born soldiers who chose to fight alongside Russia. Conducting interviews with these prisoners of war is challenging, as they must be assured of their safety and genuine willingness to share information. Despite this, interviews were conducted, providing insight into the motivations of these individuals.\n\nAnton, who was 10 when his eastern Donbas region was seized by Moscow loyalists, joined the Russian army at age 18 in 2022. He maintains that he fought to defend his land. Other soldiers express similar sentiments – they have lost friends and are hesitant to volunteer due to the significant sign-up fees. With Ukraine capturing its own citizens in battle, they are prosecuted for treason and held in PoW camps, though Ukraine still views them as Ukrainian with Russia's control of their regions as temporary. The reality is more complex, as these soldiers identify more strongly with Russia, embracing Russian schooling and media, and viewing Ukraine's leadership as \"Nazis.\"\n\nThese Ukrainian-born soldiers, born and raised in Ukraine, have grown up under occupation, with Russian education and media dominating their lives. They now speak Russian and support Putin's agenda to take more Donbas territory. Despite acknowledging the loss of life, they believe the war could have ended but chose not to. In the prison hospital, Artyom lies wounded, having been fighting for only two months. He joined the Russian army willingly, not just for the money but also to avenge his region's past. His commander was reportedly poor, and he never received his promised pay. The soldier in the adjacent bed was paid five times more, adding insult to Artyom's injuries. The Ukrainian-born PoWs interviewed all came from areas occupied since 2014 and voluntarily joined the Russian army. However, an official estimate suggests over 50,000 Ukrainians were conscripted against their will in occupied areas, while others believe the number is even higher. One man from Donetsk claimed he was forced to fight by his family, as they had called Donetsk home before the war.",
  "summary": "Men born in Ukraine who fought for Russia are tried for treason, but at a prisoner of war camp in western Ukraine, many believe they were defending their homeland.",
  "key_points": [
    "Ukrainian-born soldiers captured in Russia fight for Russia.",
    "Many hail from St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, and less affluent regions.",
    "They identify with Russia, view Ukraine's leadership as Nazis."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "BBC World",
        "title": "Captured Ukrainian-born soldiers tell BBC why they fought for Russia",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/20/captured-ukrainian-born-soldiers-tell-bbc-why-they-fought-for-russia-2077763",
        "published": "2026-08-20T05:01:24.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}