February 27, 2023, 18:41 – BLiTZ – News
On the territory of the DPR, another unit was formed, which consists of former Ukrainian prisoners of war who went over to the side of Russia. This was announced by one of the unit commanders Andrei Tishchenko.
There are about 70 people in the battalion, 95% of whom are former Ukrainian military with combat experience. Currently, the battalion is awaiting replenishment with former fighters of the Armed Forces of Ukraine who were in various colonies. Contracts with soldiers who have joined the ranks of the battalion will be concluded with the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation on general terms.
According to a military expert, former intelligence officer Colonel Anatoly Matviychuk, before joining the Russian battalion, the former Ukrainian military must pass a number of conditions. MK writes about it.
Prisoners of war undergo a thorough check, their past must not contain war crimes or membership in nationalist organizations banned in the Russian Federation. If everything is in order, then they are accepted into the battalion. One of the main conditions is the voluntary renunciation of Ukrainian citizenship. After that, they, as citizens of Russia, conclude a contract and begin combat training.
According to Matviychuk, it is possible that the new battalion will take part in hostilities. Currently, they are training junior officers, and the sergeants are likely to be from Ukraine, and the officer core is Russian. The experience of serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine can be useful to the fighters of the battalion, as they know tactics, weapons and the nature of the enemy better than others. However, the concern that they might switch sides again remains.
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