# Born in Ukraine, why fight for Russia? Captured soldiers tell the BBC their stories

https://mins.news/en/item/28135

- BBC Chinese, 2026-08-21 08:21 UTC
- World
- Original: https://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/articles/cr59gmzdj2zo/trad?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss

> At a prisoner-of-war camp in western Ukraine, men born in Ukraine who fought for Russia describe why they joined. Some say they were defending their homeland and identify as Russian; others cite promised payments, escape from prison sentences or local grievances. They also describe injuries, unpaid bonuses and frustration over prisoner exchanges.

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