24-year-old Russian serviceman defects to Ukraine: What is known
Photo: The Russian soldier who defected to Ukraine participated in a press conference (t.me/DIUkraine)
The Freedom of Russia Legion conducted a special Ocheret (Cane) operation, during which a 24-year-old Russian serviceman defected to Ukraine, according to the Freedom of Russia Legion on Telegram, the Khochu zhyt (I Want to Live) project on Facebook, and the Defense Intelligence on Telegram.
As noted by the Khochu zhyt project, the Russian soldier with the call sign Silver was assigned to one of the Shtorm (Storm) suicide units, where he witnessed complete lawlessness and the devaluation of human life.
According to the Freedom of Russia Legion, he disagreed with the regime of Russian President Vladimir Putin and decided to join the unit of Russians fighting on Ukraine's side.
Silver became a volunteer in the Freedom of Russia Legion in the winter of 2024. For several months, he provided the legion with crucial information: the locations of Russian forces and assets, their plans, and tasks on a specific section of the front.
"Later, at the right moment, he activated explosive devices in the headquarters, directly above the resting place of the regiment commander and senior officers. As a result, the commander and several senior officers of the Shtorm unit were seriously injured," the legion stated.
The Defense Intelligence clarified that Silver threw a grenade into a ventilation opening in the basement of the Shtorm-Z unit's headquarters. His battalion commander and other Russian officers were sleeping in the room.
"There were about 15 people in the basement. In this room, there was a pipe right above the bed where the battalion commander was sleeping. It led outside near the entrance, so we decided to throw a grenade or two into this pipe so that they would explode near them," the Russian soldier recounted during a press conference.
After that, during his withdrawal, the Russian soldier mined the path and exited via the agreed-upon route. He is currently undergoing basic training as a recruit of the legion.
What preceded
Last year, Ukraine's Defense Intelligence conducted a special operation called Synytsia, during which Russian pilot Maksim Kuzminov was recruited. He flew a Mi-8 helicopter to Ukrainian territory.
In February of this year, it was reported that Kuzminov had been killed in Spain. The Defense Intelligence did not disclose the details of the incident.
