OpenTube

Inside the mindset of Russian soldiers invading Ukraine

Kyiv Independent

633,131 views

After Russia's staggering losses over four years of full-scale war against Ukraine, what motivates Russians to continue voluntarily joining the army? The Kyiv Independent's Francis Farrell visits a prisoner-of-war camp in western Ukraine to speak directly with Russian POWs captured on the battlefield. Through these firsthand interviews, the soldiers describe their backgrounds, how they were recruited, what motivated them to enlist, and how their view of Russia's war has changed over time. These conversations were filmed and published with the full consent of the subjects, in keeping with international law.

Subscribe to our channel for more independent reporting from Ukraine.

Become a member of our community: https://kyivindependent.com/membershi...

Your support allows us to bring independent, locally sourced news about Ukraine to the world.

00:00 Introduction
00:36 Entering the camp
01:57 Support independent journalism
02:13 "I never regretted anything"
06:27 "I'm against this war"
10:01 Lunch with the POWs
10:51 Russia recruiting young men
11:13 "Everyone is tired of it"
14:02 "I was interested in being a soldier"
19:03 Future of Russians entering war
21:13 Become a member

20 Comments

@kyivindependent Creator 2 months ago Pinned

Subscribe to our channel for more independent reporting from Ukraine.

Become a member of our community: https://kyivindependent.com/membership/?utm_source=video_report_powcamp2026&utm_medium=powcamp2026

Your support allows us to bring independent, locally sourced news about Ukraine to the world.

@RobertoTeodoro-m9t 2 months ago

Ironic how the need to renovate their house brought to the choice of destroying others.

@No-One-None-One 2 months ago

"An order is an order" is the mindset of a slave, not a free man

@cipmars 2 months ago

The Russians always say that everybody is taught to hate Russia. They never wonder why.

@JohnSmith-fg7rd 2 months ago

I wonder how many of these POW's realize how fortunate they are to be sitting out of the war. 😮

@pietreks3409 2 months ago (edited)

None of those people, none of them, act like they have free will or ability to critically think. This is the scariest part.

@vencibushy 2 months ago

Serfdom has never ended in Russia. These are not free people, but rather modern slaves. Not single drop of will. Just a plain existence.

@salihdoughramaji4832 2 months ago

The banality of evil on display.

@toxic-o1u 2 months ago

These people are basically dead inside. Soulless and opportunistic shells.

@dynamicsupersoul 2 months ago

Perfect summery. Empty heads. Dead heads. It's shocking and disgusting as well. I thought: are they human?

@bluejesus105 2 months ago

I like how honest they are, not hiding their selfish or faul reasons to join. Money, presige, intetests of their country which includes destroying another one etc.

@adefiiilnoort 2 months ago (edited)

The most difficult part of a 3-day Special Military Operation is the first four years... Glory to Ukraine.

@davidpelc 2 months ago

As an Czech army officer we were always teaching our soldiers that they don´t have to follow orders if such orders are against the law. But Russia is just an barbaric state, where the law means nothing.

@Holy_Exemplar 2 months ago

This world would look very different if there were less "unconditional patriots", Russian or otherwise.

@HakuHatake96 2 months ago

It is interesting how the young soldier said: "Here they are defending their homeland, while we are defending the interest of our country."
Deliberately not saying "attack". He really put both sides on equal moral footing.

@prismpyre7653 2 months ago

So, in 2014, Putin took Pavel's job and income away from him, and Pavel's response was to say "Here, Master, would you like to take my blood and my life, too?? I will wrap them up for you." ..........

@sigmaoctantis1892 2 months ago

What appals me is that these people seem to be shadows, not quite alive. They were not quite alive at home. They were not quite alive in the army. Now they are not quite alive as prisoners. Orders are orders wherever you are. Just do what you're told and don't think about it. Just go on surviving.