Russians living in Ukraine on their 'rage, shame and terrible emptiness'
Andrey Sidorkine wants to enlist in Ukraine to help fend off the Russian invasion, but every time he tries to sign up, he gets rejected.
The reason? He’s Russian.
“I have already gone to the military enlistment office five times, but they sent me back precisely because I have a Russian passport,” said Sidorkine, a resident of Kyiv. “I tried to somehow get through in another way and I went to Azov, but so far, to no avail.”
Sidorkine is one of several Russian citizens resident in Ukraine who are willing to take up arms against their former home. For many, Moscow's invasion of Ukraine has brought heartbreaking consequences as they watch their country of origin transform into an enemy.
As he can't enlist, Sidorkine has instead taken to preparing Molotov cocktails with other volunteers.
“If this happens, God forbid, that Russian troops enter here [Kyiv], I would like to meet them with weapons in my hands, and not empty-handed,” he said.
There were nearly 175,000 Russians living in Ukraine with a residence permit at the end of January, according to Ukraine's State Migration Service, with many more likely living there illegally due to the lack of visa regime between the two countries.
And while some, like Sidorkine, are prepared to defend their new home if need be, others feel more torn.
Maria Trouchnikova, a 43-year-old English teacher who has lived in Ukraine for 20 years, says she is experiencing an identity crisis.
"Shame, rage, pride for Ukraine, there is all of that in me," she said, adding that she feels "a terrible emptiness instead of nationality".
Sasha Alekseyeva, who now lives in Lviv, actually feels safer in Ukraine than in Russia, where she says a “different war” is being waged.
“We are certainly much worse here now
Read more on euronews.com
