# Captured Ukrainian-born soldiers tell BBC why they fought for Russia

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/captured-ukrainian-born-soldiers-tell-bbc-why-they-fought-for-russia/
- Published: 2026-08-20T05:01:24+00:00
- Updated: 2026-08-20T05:12:35+00:00
- Original publisher: BBC World (publisher lean: Centre)
- Original article: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn9nr195drzo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
- Topics: Europe, World

## Key points

- BBC interviews Ukrainian-born PoWs who fought for Russia in the war
- Many, raised under occupation, say they identify as Russian, not Ukrainian
- Fewer new recruits are volunteering despite big Russian sign-up bonuses

## Summary

The BBC has interviewed Ukrainian-born soldiers held in a Ukrainian prisoner-of-war camp who chose to fight for Russia, revealing how years of occupation and Kremlin-controlled schooling and media have reshaped the identity of many in the east. The interviews, conducted under conditions ensuring the men were not coerced, offer a rare insight into what motivates people to take up arms against their own country, at a time when questions are growing over Russia's ability to keep recruiting fighters for the war.

Among those interviewed was Anton, from Donetsk, who was 10 when his region fell under Moscow-backed control and enlisted for Russia the moment he turned 18 in 2022. He said he considers himself Russian rather than Ukrainian, despite bearing a Ukrainian surname, and voiced support for Putin continuing the offensive in Donbas even as friends who signed up alongside him have been killed. Prisoners told the BBC that fewer people are now volunteering to fight despite large sign-up bonuses, suggesting Russia's reluctance to order mass mobilisation could soon come under strain. Ukrainian officials, including Petro Yatsenko of the PoW coordination headquarters, acknowledge that such captured citizens have a "blurred" national identity, even though Kyiv formally still regards them as Ukrainian and puts those caught fighting for Russia on trial for treason.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.