The war instigated by Russia against Ukraine drags into its orbit not only Russians, but citizens of other countries, including Kazakhstanis. Some of the latter volunteered to join Russian Armed Forces, others reacted to recruiters in messenger channels, while some of them were recruited while being in Russia.  Among the latter category are non-Russians who became citizens of Russia and foreigners doing time in Russian jails. 

This article is the first in a series of publications about citizens of Kazakhstan who chose to take part in someone else’s war.

This first article is not a first-person account of events – it is an aggregate of reports from persons who knew the individual we are discussing herein. The individual volunteered to join anti-Ukrainian forces in Donbas and was killed in battle with Ukrainian Armed Forces. Below are recollections from his colleagues – people who attempted to advise him off his choice. He would not listen.

With Good Intentions…

Yuri was born in a Karaganda suburbia in a five-story dwelling block. Until the age of 36, his life was quiet and well organized – a truck and a bus driver with wife and kids at home. A casual city resident, but the war in Ukraine changed his life-lifestyle.

With the beginning of the Russia invasion, Yuri decided that his place was with the ranks of the fighting Russian army. We do not know for sure, what motivated Yuri to abandon his life  — was it willingness to earn some money, or was it his trust in the righteousness of the Russian invasion. Most likely, Yuri trusted that his choice was a goodwill, but, as they say, hell is paved with good intentions.  .

He Left to Find His Death

He never got to fight for a long time – KIA in several weeks. January this year, his body was brought back home.  KIA in the vicinity of Bahmut, the town where most blood-voluptuous armed confrontation had been taking place since summer 2022. Yuri, supposedly, drafted through social networks. His social networks accounts have posts about the life of truck drivers, and PMC Wagner. Besides, Yuri joined the Special Military Operation group in social networks with publications about battles and casualties. 

It is hard to say, when exactly Yuri was killed. The burial date was postponed for several times – supposedly, because relatives had problems brining the body back to Kazakhstan.

He Made It to Russia

Yuri’s family were reluctant to answer our questions, so we collected fragments of information about his life from various sources, including colleagues. One of them reported to us, that Yuri had shared with him plans to travel to Russia and fight against Ukraine.

— Yes, he burst to go to Russia.  And he made it there – in his second attempt. His first attempt was summer 2022, but, as far as I know, Kazakhstan would not let him out for some reasons. We all tried to advise him off that. He would not listen. He over-estimated own self, he was way too self-confident and restless, as well. Even children would not stop him. He wanted to earn some money. He told us, that mercenaries made more money than all of us drivers taken together. But he never encouraged others to join him. I think he had some co-thinkers from the community of truck-drivers. They all cruised Russia, so maybe they were the ones who motivated him. It is hard to say, for what cause he got killed. May be, it was his willingness to earn some extra cash, so that he could have a happier life, but that did not happen.