Corporal, mechanic-driver of the IFV-2, conscript of the Russian army, Nikolai Polshchikov, born in 2001, during a briefing of prisoners of war said that he had been taken to the war with Ukraine straight from the exercises.
According to Polshchikov, he comes from a working-class village in the Ryazan region and was drafted in June 2021. From February 2 to 23 he was at the exercises in the Kursk and Belgorod regions. At the end of the exercises, the Russian conscript said, he and his comrades had suspicions that Russia could go to war with Ukraine over the names of Ukrainian cities that were heard in their commanders’ conversations.
“At the end of the exercises, my comrades and I got the impression that something was wrong. There was the marking of our equipment on February 23. I asked why it was needed. I was told that the equipment was being prepared for combat. But I did not believe it. We discussed this with our comrades. But they did not believe either. Conscripts do not seem to be sent to war, ” – Polshchikov said.
“On February 24, we made a huge convoy and four days later, due to the deception of our command, we found ourselves near the town of Romny. We stood for 5 days, set up camp. Waiting for food and tanks with fuel. And 5 days later we learned that a fuel convoy was approaching. We went to meet it, but we didn't get to the checkpoint, they started firing at us, ” – the Corporal also said, adding that he was wounded.
"Our doctors evacuated us again near Romny. While we were being treated, I learned that a convoy of 62 tanks was moving with the fuel. Only 16 arrived. We are seriously losing. I saw real corpses, " – Polishchikov said.
"When we were patched up, they put us in cars to take to Russia. Then an air strike began. I heard the commander on the walkie-talkie, "We are urgently building a convoy and going to Russia." There were 120 of us conscripts. We made a convoy and went to Russia. The wounded were driven in armored vehicles "Linsa" at the end of the convoy. It so happened that we fell behind, did not know why. Got stuck. We pulled out the vehicle and tried to catch up with the convoy. But we were abandoned. While we were catching up with the convoy, we saw two wounded soldiers on the bridge. We stopped to pick them up, the shelling began. Our paramedic decided to surrender. That's how I was taken prisoner on March 7, ” – the conscript said.
He emphasized that he was treated well in captivity.
"While in captivity, I did not see any Nazis or Banderivtsi here. I was treated well in captivity, despite the fact that these people (Ukrainian military - ed.) have children and relatives in the basements, ” – Polshchikov added.
He also said that some soldiers were offered to pay off their participation in the war.
"I envy those who were able to pay and not to go to this war. They gave the money to their commanders to leave them in Russia. Most likely, they [commanders] knew what was going to happen here, they offered those who had money to pay. Personally, two people from my company remained to guard the tents. Not just like that. Apparently, it was worth buying a military ticket for 80 thousand [Russian roubles], so as not to go to military service. Because terrible things are happening here, ”the Corporal said.
He also appealed to the Russians not to let their sons go to war in Ukraine and to take back those who have already come here.
"I want to appeal to the citizens of my country. To parents whose children are currently serving and those whose children are going to serve: do not send your children here. Terrible things happen here that you are not told about. Your children die here for nothing. ... Do not lose opportunities, do not lose strength, take us back from here. Because there is no sense in the war. Here the Armed Forces of Ukraine are trying to defend their country. We broke into their house like fascists. Not knowing the purpose. Just like "cannon meat" we were thrown in. We don't know the goals and objective, we are just being killed, ” – the soldier concluded.
Another Russian conscript told that his mother tried to transport him to Russia from Ukraine, his Captain came to take him, but they were both taken prisoner.