Escape from the Front Lines: How Russian Deserters Are Helping Today's Military Break Free and Start a New Life

At the beginning of the full-scale war between Russia and Ukraine, 19-year-old Alexey Veretennikov He couldn't imagine he'd end up at the front. From the very beginning, the young man held anti-war views and even posted a photo of Vladimir Putin in a Nazi uniform during World War II on social media, which spoke volumes about his beliefs.

Alexey was relatively lucky: a court in his native Saransk assessed his anti-war "performance" as a "public display of Nazi symbols," and the young man got off with a fine.

However, the administrative procedure did not help him avoid conscription, and in June 2022 he officially joined the Russian army.

From conscripts to contract soldiers

"When mobilization began, we were told that we, as military personnel, were also subject to it, and therefore we had two options: either we sign a contract and are sent to serve in the rear, or we are sent straight into the 'meat' assault as mobilized personnel," says Alexey.

On the subject: Despite the huge losses in the war with Ukraine, Russia will not run out of soldiers anytime soon, and here's why

Alexey isn't the only one who was tricked into signing a contract. In recent years, this practice has become almost universal, and the methods used to convert former conscripts into contract soldiers have become harsher. Command now most often enforces such contracts through threats, coercion, and direct attacks. physical torture, when conscripts are humiliated, beaten, and deprived of sleep. There are frequent cases when commanders they conclude the contract themselves on behalf of a serviceman, forging his signature. In February, human rights activists the document got there, confirming that conscripts are recruited for the war on the direct orders of the Ministry of Defense.

After signing the contract, Alexei Veretennikov did not participate in assault operations and served in a clothing warehouse. This information was confirmed to ForumDaily by the Paris-based human rights organizationBye weapons", the purpose of which is to help Russian deserters obtain political asylum in Europe.

According to Alexei, he always wanted to escape from the front, but for a long time he didn't know who to turn to for help. When he came across information about human rights organizations that help deserters from the front (the most famous of these organizations is "Go through the forest"), he immediately reached out to them. With the help of volunteers, Alexey managed to travel to Armenia, where he himself became a volunteer for an organization that helps deserters, "Tverdy Znak."

Organizing an escape

Vladimir Bernhardt, founder of Tverdoy Znak (Hard Sign), knows firsthand how difficult it is to escape the front for those who have already had the misfortune of being there. A former mobilized soldier, he escaped from the war twiceThe first time, Vladimir remained in Russia and successfully hid in the woods for nine months. However, in September 2025, he risked returning home, deciding that no one would look for him there after so long. It was there that he was detained, beaten, and held for a month in a "cage" at the Krasnodar commandant's office—under torture, as Vladimir himself claims. He was then sent to Novorossiysk to a collection point for soldiers who had gone AWOL. From there, Vladimir managed to escape a second time. He illegally crossed the border into Belarus and from there flew to Armenia.

Now, "Tverdy Znak" develops safe routes and helps those who fled the war in Armenia itself – finding work, housing, and obtaining documents.

"It's difficult to leave the front lines (the contact line): there are patrols, checkpoints, and a lot of military police on the roads. We develop individual routes and advancement tactics," Vladimir shares in an interview with ForumDaily.

Vladimir. Photo from personal archive.

Verification

When a potential deserter seeks help from Hard Sign, the organization's members strive to verify them as best they can and ensure they are not a provocateur or a war criminal.

"First, we review his documents: passport, military ID, and contract; his military service account, his profile on the Gosuslugi website, and other documents, such as hospital discharge certificates. Then we check his information against the federal wanted list database, search the internet for any mentions of this person, any criminal or civil cases related to him, and review his social media accounts. We always arrange a video call to ensure we're dealing with the right person who needs help. In this call, he tells his story, where he is, how he got to the front, the circumstances, and so on," Vladimir explains.

According to Vladimir, his organization strives to help people escape the front lines as much as possible, including former criminals. The main goal is to ensure that people stop participating in murder and save their own lives and those of others.

"Firstly, in Russia you can end up in prison 'for lawlessness,' and secondly, a prisoner also has a right to life. He's a human being, too, and by deserting, he won't end up killing any Ukrainians. Furthermore, his escape will weaken Putin's army and the regime as a whole," argues the founder of "Tverdoy Znak."

However, after a former soldier manages to leave the front lines, the approach to deserters becomes more targeted. Vladimir Bernhardt himself is convinced that not every person who decides to lay down their arms "deserves" asylum in Europe. In order to begin assisting them with documents for a humanitarian visa, the organization's members must verify that the potential refugee has not committed war crimes and has proven his anti-war views.

"We search for the deserter in the Ukrainian Myrotvorets database and through all online references, verifying all information about the military unit in which he served. If the need arises—for example, our project will verify people for the preparation of documents for European visas and political asylum—we have contacts in Ukraine to obtain information on specific individuals," explains Vladimir.

"A Farewell to Arms" similarly verifies deserters, sending requests to the Prosecutor General's Office of Ukraine if necessary. However, the organization's founders acknowledge that the chances of a deserter receiving asylum in Europe are quite low. On January 12, the Estonian government banned Entry into the country for those who fought in Ukraine with the Russian troops. Discussions are currently underway to expand this initiative to the entire European Union. There are currently no exceptions for deserters.

Deserter Hunt

However, not all former military personnel are eager to emigrate to the West, and some prefer to remain in Armenia. As Alexey Veretennikov explains, the rules for legalization in this country are simple. Those interested can obtain a so-called "social card," which allows them to legally reside in the country without any restrictions on their length of stay. It is issued free of charge, and to obtain it, all they need to do is have their passport translated into Armenian.

Those who don't want a social card can stay in Armenia for up to 180 consecutive days and then take a visa run—a trip outside the country that resets their stay. As Alexey notes, in practice, even if a person exceeds the permitted stay and doesn't take a visa run, Armenia doesn't deport them to Russia, only requiring them to pay a fine. Furthermore, "Tverdy Znak" provides adaptation assistance for new arrivals and even provides a psychologist for those who need help overcoming PTSD.

However, deserters admit that Russian authorities can, if they so choose, "reach out" to those remaining in Armenia. One of the main ways to "ruin the life" of a deserter abroad is to initiate criminal proceedings against them for unauthorized abandonment and place them on the CIS interstate wanted list. In this case, Armenia, which shares wanted lists with Russia, is obliged to prevent the individual from leaving the country pending a possible extradition request from Moscow.

If no such request is received, the restrictions are lifted. If a request is received, it is reviewed by Armenian authorities on its merits, and the travel ban may be extended for several months. Incidentally, this procedure applies not only to deserters but to all Russians, including ordinary dissidents. A similar situation occurred with Alexei Veretennikov. For several months, he has been unable to lift the travel ban imposed by Armenian authorities in connection with his extradition request from Russia.

However, a criminal case proves to be a relatively "soft" method of pressure compared to attempts to physically kidnap deserters. A Russian military base is still located in Gyumri, and, according to Vladimir Bernhardt, Russian troops are also stationed in Yerevan. Cases of kidnapping There have already been cases of people in Armenia, especially among those deserters who actively give interviews and speak out against the war.

Ilya Elokhin personally experienced such an attempted kidnapping. A former schoolteacher from the Perm region, despite numerous illnesses, he was mobilized and sent to the front. Having made his way to Armenia, Ilya in numerous interviews He spoke not only about the abuse he suffered in his unit but also about war crimes committed by the Russian army, including the "zeroing" of his military service and the execution of Ukrainian prisoners. For such revelations, the Russian authorities accused Ilya of "treason" and declared a full-scale manhunt for the deserter.

"They tried to kidnap me three times, lying in wait outside my house. Once, I was only able to escape because Armenian police officers were nearby, and I ran to them for protection," Ilya said in an interview with ForumDaily. Ilya Elokhin has now left Armenia and is in a safe country.

Vladimir. Photo from personal archive.

Legal loopholes

Waiting for permission to leave Alexey Veretennikov He consults with other deserters, primarily on legal issues and other aspects of adapting to Armenia. His first advice to former military personnel is to apply for a foreign passport at the Russian consulate.

"Initially, when someone leaves the front, they're declared AWOL, and the specific military unit attempts to locate them. Only after some time is a criminal case opened against them and an international search is issued. On average, the search is launched about three months after leaving the unit. Although some might be 'lucky' and simply declared missing," Alexey explains.

You may be interested in: top New York news, stories of our immigrants, and helpful tips about life in the Big Apple - read it all on ForumDaily New York

This time lag can be used to obtain a passport and leave Armenia. While deserters were able to at least submit their documents before criminal proceedings were initiated, there have been cases where they received their passports while still under investigation.

"I received my passport exactly the day I was placed on the international wanted list," Alexey shares. "For those trying to leave Russia now, I would advise reserving slots on the embassy's website in advance to avoid delays in obtaining documents. Sometimes, your safety can literally depend on it."

Read also on ForumDaily:

Cuba accused the US of preparing a 'fabricated pretext' for military intervention: the island's residents are ready to defend themselves.

The State Duma passed a law granting the president the right to use the army to protect Russian citizens abroad.

A Scottish military instructor in Ukraine was arrested for spying for Russia.

Do you want more important and interesting news about life in the USA and immigration to America? — support us donate! Also subscribe to our page Facebook. Select the “Priority in display” option and read us first. Also, don't forget to subscribe to our РєР ° РЅР ° Р »РІ Telegram  and Social media coordinator- there is a lot of interesting things there. And join thousands of readers ForumDaily New York — there you will find a lot of interesting and positive information about life in the metropolis.