The sailor, nicknamed “Goga,” was a radio operator on the Russian missile corvette “Serpukhov,” which is deployed in the Kaliningrad region and can launch Kalibr and Zircon cruise missiles in any direction.
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Because of his actions, the Russian Navy corvette was unable to carry out its tasks for several months, so it could not be used to attack Ukraine.
Speaking to Sky News journalists, the soldier said that although he served in the Russian army, he opposed the large-scale invasion started by Russia from the very beginning.
“I was the only person on the ship who did not support the war,” he noted.
Raised in a military family in Kaliningrad, “Goga” said that at first he tried to convince his fellow sailors that the invasion was illegal. According to him, because of these actions, military prosecutors noticed him and issued an official warning.
Later, the man admitted that he tried to leave the Russian Navy according to official regulations, but his request for dismissal was denied.
“Having exhausted all possible legal options to leave the army, I no longer knew what to do or how to get myself discharged,” he said.
“Goga’s” situation became even more complicated when rumors began to spread that several Russian ships might soon be deployed for operations related to the war against Ukraine.
Deciding not to participate in attacks against Ukrainians, the man contacted the “Russian Freedom” legion – a formation mainly composed of Russian citizens fighting against Moscow’s forces.
After a long vetting process, a plan was prepared for him to sabotage the “Serpukhov” ship and escape.
As stated, for some time “Goga” still served on the ship, gradually collecting secret military documents and bringing gasoline cans onto the ship.
“I started carrying fuel to the communications department and pouring it on the equipment,” he admitted.
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Before starting the fire, the soldier made sure there were no secret documents left on the ship: “I collected them beforehand and took them with me.”
Then he set a timer for when the ship would catch fire, left the corvette, hid the documents under his armpit, and took a taxi towards the Lithuanian border.
The fire spread through the ship’s communications department, damaging important electronic equipment, and as a result, the “Serpukhov” was unable to perform its duties for several months.
The damage was huge: Russia was unable to use the corvette and launch cruise missiles at Ukraine from it for some time.
“Goga” himself reached Ukraine and joined the “Russian Freedom” legion.
He emphasized that he wants to see Russia freed from the person who has ruled it for more than two decades: “Simply put: destroy the whole system and rebuild it.”
“And about Putin – I wouldn’t want him to die. I would want him to stand trial in Ukraine,” the soldier said.
Asked if since joining the legion he had to kill Russians and how he feels about it, “Goga” was silent for a long time.
“I feel nothing except relief that fewer people will die in Ukraine,” he replied.
The sailor who defected from the Russian army has only one message for his compatriots: “Run, fools. You will die.”
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