Paratrooper Pavlo Filatyev, one of the thousands of Russian soldiers who invaded Ukraine on February 24 and who has publicly criticized the invasion, told BFM TV that the soldiers sent by Vladimir Putin to fight in Ukraine have major problems with weapons, often malfunctioning, but the leadership is not telling about these issues.

Former paratrooper Pavlo Filatyev, who publicly criticized the invasionPhoto: Joel Saget / AFP / Profimedia Images

“There are problems with the equipment. The weapons are often faulty, but the leadership does not dare to speak,” former Russian paratrooper Pavlo Filatyev, who decided to hide in the south of France, told BFM TV, news.ro notes.

Filatyev decided to desert in the middle of summer. Wanted by Moscow, he published a diary in August called “ZOV” – like letters on Russian army equipment – in which he talks about what happens on a daily basis among Kremlin forces.

“There are problems at all levels. With food, for example. We steal from the canteen, we get spoiled food,” he said.

Pavlo realizes that he is risking his life by talking about the experience of the war in Ukraine. He is the first Russian military officer to publicly criticize Vladimir Putin. For him, the outcome of the conflict is determined.

“Putin has already lost and will continue to lose. He is driving more and more nails into his own coffin,” Filatyev said.

The former Russian paratrooper does not rule out the use of nuclear weapons

Answering the question about the use of nuclear weapons by Moscow, the deserter soldier believes that this option “cannot be ruled out.”

Now this former paratrooper lives with human rights defender Volodymyr Osechkin, who is also wanted by Moscow and who supports the compatriot’s approach.

“He risked his life and freedom by leaving Russia. He is still risking his life here in France to tell the rest of the world about the horrors and nightmares of this war and to expose Putin’s lies and propaganda,” Volodymyr Osechkin testified. BFMTV.

Like Pavlo, many Russian fighters seem to be breaking their silence. In a video from October 7, the Russian military condemned the poor conditions of their mobilization.

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