I left the army a long time ago, but I have to come to the unit every morning. Although I returned my uniform in September, I am obliged to report in civilian clothes. Then I go about my business. Nobody asks me anything, nobody says anything. I participate daily Ridiculous show.
I have signed an agreement with the Ministry of Defense in 2021. Why? Good question. Probably out of helplessness.
I was released from action a few minutes ago. I have no job and don’t know where to go with my intermediate vocational education in installing and operating refrigeration equipment. The officers in the training department convinced me to sign the contract. They said that everything will be fine: “You don’t have to do anything” and “You will get some money”, 30,000. Ruble (at today’s exchange rate: PLN 1.3 thousand).
Of course, it cannot be compared with the current conditions, but it is a normal salary. I thought I’d sit back, bide my time, wait a few years and see what happens next. Anyway, I was determined.
What I thought started in 2022? Of course not. I guess I was young and stupid. But I have to admit that experienced people don’t think so.
Write the report, hand over the uniform and leave
For obvious reasons (Under Russian law, any negative statement about the war is considered defamation of the military – Ed.) I cannot say what I thought on February 24. I was sure that I would not actively participate in it, that the contract would end and that I would resign and return to public life. In the end, it’s not a matter of my vision: I don’t like the service.
Yes, already in the first days of the “special operation” I had an opportunity to go ahead. I said I will not go. No problem. The high officials then thought that if one did not go, they would send another. And so it happened. My teammates started dying. But they didn’t touch me.
My contract with Ministry of Defense is valid till February 2023 but I submitted my report in September 2022. I had to return to my family: my mother had a drinking problem, and my sister was sent to an orphanage. I wanted to help them.
My superiors didn’t care. — Write the report, hand over the uniform and leave – said the commander. So I did. On September 19, they decided to fire me. On September 21, Putin announced partial demobilization.
I was able to send home my wife, who had accompanied me from Kirov to the Khabarovsk region, and sell my goods. Then I got a call: “Come to headquarters.” I drove. At last I thought I should sign some papers and say goodbye. But I heard it at the police station The decision is quashed and I am reinstated and must continue in my service.
Stringer/AFP
Russians were drafted into the army as part of partial mobilization. October 2022
Presidential Decree
To all my questions – how, why and on what basis? – The answer is the same: Decree of the President of the Russian Federation. I said I am not going to fight anywhere. Nothing happened for months. In February, my contract officially ended (even though the Army had signed an order terminating me five months earlier), but instead of being fired, I was told that I would have to go to the Northwestern Military District. If I don’t, I will be dismissed with a disciplinary notice “Tendency to treachery, lies and deceit” In my army book.
I refused again. I won’t lie – at first, I thought about myself and fought for myself. But it is my right not to die and it is my right not to kill. I don’t want anyone to die.
is significant here I’m not the only one who wants to leave contract service. Practically everyone loved it. Many wrote such statements, but they had to stay. Now many of them are dead.
In the second half of March, I was called to the attorney’s office for an informal conversation. The lawyer gave me “fatherly” advice. “Go to war before the case starts and everything will be normal,” he said. I replied Nothing will be normal. On March 28, services began Criminal case against me.
Pizza supplier to the military
I would like to emphasize that I was discharged from service in September 2022. I appealed the order. – You signed this order yourself, I have officially finished my service – I said. But in response I heard two words again: “Presidential order”. I wasn’t actually in the army at the time, but I was working as a delivery man. Once my unit got an order – I brought a pizza to the commander.
Then there was a military court, and I was sentenced to … Two and a half years in a penal colony.
My lawyer and I appealed so I’m free now. I go to the unit in the morning and listen to the hymn and the priest’s prayers. I don’t do anything else.
My wife is by my side. We’ve known each other since high school. We got married when I was already in active service. He has been with me since the day it all started. If I go to jail, she promises to wait. I do not regret anything, it is worth resisting. He is alive. I didn’t kill anyone. This is the most important.