Russian Defectors Join Ukrainian Army in Fight Against Putin

The Siberian Battalion, formed of Russian defectors, is officially part of the regular Ukrainian army and hopes to break Moscow's control over Russia's far east region.

• Disgruntled Russian nationals are defecting to join the Ukrainian army in the ongoing conflict, forming a special unit known as the Siberian Battalion.
• The Siberian Battalion, unlike other volunteer units with Russian nationals, is officially part of the regular Ukrainian army.
• The battalion was formed six months ago and currently consists of a few dozen fighters, with Ukrainian military leaders hoping to expand to a 300-man-strong unit.
• Members of the battalion undergo extensive security checks and training before being deployed to the front lines in eastern Ukraine.
• Many of the battalion's members hail from Russia's far east region, hoping that a Ukrainian victory in the war would help break Moscow's control over their region.

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