Ukrainian prisoners of war and defectors have been gathered into a Russian battalion to face Ukrainian forces — why? And how?

Rising2 outlets reported this in 3 reports over 2 days

After publishing: 1 headline quietly rewritten1 change

Vecernji list (Croatia)seen 10 Oct, 21:09headline rewritten
~~Jesu li Ukrajinci koji ratuju za Rusiju dobrovoljci ili žrtve prisile?~~Nasilje, samica, elektrošokovi… Pobjegao od Rusa pa opisao kako su ga prisilili da se bori na njihovoj strani

Sat, 10 October 2026peak 2 reports on Sun, 11 October 2026Sun, 11 October 2026

What it is about

Pavlo Olijnyk Nasilje Rusa Ukrajinu Ukrainian prisoners of war Russian battalion Ukrainian forces Russia

Who published it, and when

original reportedited after publishingfirst to report

Vecernji list (Croatia)

DW Top Stories

10 Oct, 16:20over 14 hours11 Oct, 06:38

How it spread - 3 original reports

Sat, 10 October 2026
1 report
- Vecernji list (Croatia)16:20edited after publishing
  Nasilje, samica, elektrošokovi… Pobjegao od Rusa pa opisao kako su ga prisilili da se bori na njihovoj strani
  previously~~Jesu li Ukrajinci koji ratuju za Rusiju dobrovoljci ili žrtve prisile?~~
  25-godišnji ukrajinski potporučnik Pavlo Olijnyk otkriva kako je, nakon brutalnog iskustva u ruskom zarobljeništvu, pristao pridružiti se ruskoj vojsci u nadi da će se moći vratiti u Ukrajinu. Njegova priča otvara pitanja o prisili i dobrovoljnosti ukrajinskih boraca u ruskim formacijama.
Sun, 11 October 2026
2 reports
- DW Top Stories06:38first to report
  Who are the Ukrainian 'volunteers' under Russian command?
  Russia has announced a battalion consisting of Ukrainian "volunteers." But veterans and former prisoners of war share very different accounts.
- DW Top Stories06:38
  Ukrainian prisoners of war and defectors have been gathered into a Russian battalion to face Ukrainian forces — why? And how?
  Russia has announced a battalion consisting of Ukrainian "volunteers." But veterans and former prisoners of war share very different accounts.