A deserter from the Russian army, now a refugee in Spain, wanted to tell the international media regarding the horrors he saw in Ukraine.
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In an interview with the French media BFM TV, Nikita Chibrine, 27, had the courage to denounce the war crimes committed by her Russian colleagues. At the beginning of March, he was part of the 64th motorized rifle brigade, sadly known for having committed the Boutcha massacre, on the outskirts of Kyiv.
AFP
“They raped a mother and her 17-year-old daughter […] They were intoxicated, there were four of them in total and they were later arrested. They received a sanction, they were hit with stools before they were fired,” he explained.
The Boutcha massacre, which occurred between February 27 and March 31, shocked the entire planet; dozens of civilians had been savagely killed and their hands tied.
The Kremlin had denied the facts, calling the massacre “staged”.
AFP
Asked regarding the looting and abuses committed by the Russian army, Shibrin replied that Russia must be held responsible.
“Russia must answer for its crimes. Soldiers must not attack civilians […] Russia is a terrorist state and anyone who supports the cause of terrorists must be punished. They do illegal things,” he told reporters. BFM TV.
The ex-soldier said he fled the battlefield in mid-June by sneaking inside a cargo truck heading for Russia.
Once he arrived in Russian territory, he contacted an NGO which allowed him to leave the country by finding a plane ticket for Spain.
In Madrid, he was granted political asylum, and is now staying in a center for refugees.
The man who joined the ranks of the Russian army in 2021 says he fears for his life, since he is the subject of several threats by Russian ultranationalists.
Remember that Russian deserters risk 10 years in prison if they are caught by the authorities in Russia.