Russians self-mutilate or hide to avoid mobilization

Espreso obtained a video interview with him from sources in the Armed Forces and is providing a textual adaptation on his behalf

Khvostov said that he was "a peaceful person and never wanted war." After five days in Ukraine, he realized that the Russians were wrong.

"I have been here for five days and I realize that we are wrong. I told you, I didn't want the war. I love my homeland, but it doesn't care about us now. I don't understand who needs the war. People are dying, the nation is dying - it's a real genocide, just the destruction of a nation and nothing else. When you get here, you already understand what is happening, who is fighting with whom. And when you sit at home and watch TV, you know nothing. We don't have anything good to say about Ukraine," he notes.

However, according to the Russian prisoner of war, he went on vacation to Crimea. At that time, "it made no difference to him whether it was Ukrainian or Russian."

"Again, even there, they trespassed on their own territory, and this is not good," he added.

Khvostov also told what measures Russians are taking to avoid returning to war in Ukraine.

"And if we return [from the war in Ukraine] to Russia, our government or the FSB will listen to us and send us back. I know this for sure, because some guys who were mobilized, when they returned home, cut off the fingers on their right hand so that they would not be taken anywhere else. So you either do this or you go to die, and that's it. Because no one will leave you alone," the Russian said.

He said that if he were to return to Russia, he would cut off several of his fingers, as he has a "decent profession, a good reputation," so he would be able to find a job even without two fingers.

"My fellow conscripts have all received calls for service today, and they are now hiding from mobilization, scattered somewhere in areas where they are not known. I was also in Krasnodar, not Taganrog, where I am registered and registered with the military commissariat," he concluded.

For reference. Roman Khvostov, born on June 22, 1984, 39 years old. Originally from Taganrog. Divorced, has a daughter of 5 years old. He studied to be a cook at the Taganrog School. Then he joined the army and served his military service in Chechnya. He has never been abroad.

• The head of Ukrainian intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov, said that mobilization on the territory of the Russian Federation does not stop. The Russian authorities are considering drafting 450,000 people to fight in Ukraine.