Ukrainian service member defects to the DPR to avoid bullying and abuse in his unit

Donetsk, Feb 1 – DAN. Ukrainian service member has defected to the DPR, said DPR People's Militia deputy chief-of-staff Eduard Basurin.

"A member of the 1st tank brigade, mechanized battalion addressed us asking to protect him from bullying in his unit. In order to save his life, an operation to provide private Anatoliy Taranenko's safe passage to our territory was successfully carried out in cooperation with security agencies," he said.

The newly arrived is provided with physiological aid, there is no risk to his life.

Taranenko explained that he was bullied and abused by sergeants who robbed him of his salary.

Another Ukrainian military, mortar operator Skidan, decided in favour of the DPR in summer 2020. In 2019, former head of a high security unit of the Donetsk recruitment office Yury Aushev and a number of other service members crossed into the DPR. In 2018, a Georgian mercenary and an active service member voluntarily surrendered to the Republic. In 2017, Ukrainian Security Service Lieutenant Colonel Roman Labusov defected to the DPR. *ot