A Russian soldier, known by the call sign “Silver,” defected to Ukraine in a dramatic escape after planting explosives at his military base. The ensuing explosion injured his commander and several officers.
Silver, a 24-year-old drone operator from Siberia, had become disillusioned with the Russian military, citing war crimes, corruption, and extrajudicial killings within his ranks.
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Silver’s defection was facilitated by Ukraine’s Freedom for Russia Legion and the “I Want to Live” project, a Ukrainian initiative aimed at helping Russian soldiers who wish to surrender. He had secretly been providing Ukraine with critical intelligence on Russian troop movements and strategies for months before his escape in May.
During his time in the Russian military, Silver served near Ukraine’s eastern Avdiivka area, where he witnessed firsthand the alleged misconduct of Russian commanders.
In a video released by the Freedom for Russia Legion, Silver can be seen throwing a grenade into the bunker where his commanders were sleeping, injuring senior officers. He then used mines to cover his tracks as he fled, following a pre-planned route to defect to Ukraine. The operation was dubbed “Ocheret” by Ukraine’s military intelligence.
Silver’s cooperation has reportedly provided Ukraine with valuable insights into Russian military operations along the front line. Despite his claims, which include witnessing commanders killing their own soldiers, Russia’s Defense Ministry has declined to comment on his defection.
Ukraine views Silver’s defection as a sign of growing unrest within the Russian military. He is now undergoing training as part of Ukraine’s Freedom for Russia Legion, a group of Russian dissidents fighting alongside Ukrainian forces.
[ryan robertson]
WELL, THAT’S ONE WAY TO DEFECT.
A RUSSIAN SOLDIER KNOWN AS “SILVER” DIDN’T WANT TO BE A RUSSIAN SOLDIER ANYMORE–SO HE DROPPED A GRENADE DOWN AN AIR SHAFT AT HIS MILITARY BASE, INJURING HIS COMMANDER AND SEVERAL OFFICERS.
THEN, SILVER HIT THE ROAD–COORDINATING WITH UKRAINE’S FREEDOM FOR RUSSIA LEGION, HE USED MINES TO COVER HIS TRACKS AND SUCCESSFULLY DEFECTED IN MAY.
AS A DRONE OPERATOR STATIONED NEAR UKRAINE’S EASTERN AVDIIVKA AREA — SILVER SAYS HE GREW INCREASINGLY DISILLUSIONED WITH THE RUSSIAN MILITARY. OVER THE COURSE OF SEVERAL MONTHS, HE PROVIDED UKRAINE WITH CRITICAL INTELLIGENCE ON RUSSIAN TROOP MOVEMENTS AND STRATEGIES, ALL WHILE WITNESSING WHAT HE CALLS “EXTRAJUDICIAL KILLINGS, CRIMES OF THE COMMANDERS, CORRUPTION AND WAR CRIMES”
HIS DEFECTION WAS FACILITATED BY UKRAINE’S “I WANT TO LIVE” PROJECT ALONG WITH UNITS FROM MILITARY INTELLIGENCE…AND IT ECHOES GROWING REPORTS OF UNREST AMONG RUSSIAN TROOPS INVOLVED IN THE WAR.
UKRAINE IS HAILING THE DEFECTION AS ANOTHER SIGN OF RUSSIA’S FALTERING MORALE AS THE WAR DRAGS ON. KYIV CONFIRMED SILVER’S COOPERATION PROVIDED CRUCIAL INSIGHTS INTO THE OPERATIONS OF RUSSIAN FORCES ALONG THE FRONT LINE, AIDING UKRAINE’S EFFORTS IN THE ONGOING CONFLICT.
RUSSIA’S DEFENSE MINISTRY ISN’T COMMENTING ON SILVER’S CLAIMS, ABOUT WITNESSING COMMANDERS KILLING THEIR OWN SOLDIERS,
UKRAINE HAILS HIS DEFECTION AS ANOTHER SIGN OF RUSSIA’S FALTERING MORALE AS THE WAR DRAGS ON.
SILVER IS NOW UNDERGOING TRAINING AS PART OF UKRAINE’S FREEDOM FOR RUSSIA LEGION, A GROUP OF RUSSIAN DISSIDENTS FIGHTING AGAINST THEIR HOMELAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH UKRAINE.
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