A Russian soldier known by the call sign “Silver” has defected to Ukraine after sabotaging his own unit’s headquarters. Silver, a former FPV (First Person View) drone pilot from the Russian Storm-Z assault unit, took this drastic step after witnessing what he described as war crimes, including extrajudicial executions and extortion, committed by his commanders. His defection was facilitated by the Ukrainian intelligence agency (HUR) in collaboration with the Freedom for Russia Legion, a group of Russian dissidents fighting for Ukraine.
The defection, which occurred in early 2024, was part of a meticulously planned operation. Silver, disillusioned by Russia’s actions in Ukraine, began collaborating with the Freedom for Russia Legion months prior to his escape. During this period, he secretly provided Ukraine with valuable intelligence on Russian military positions and operations.
👍 A Russian with the call sign “Silver” blew up the headquarters with “Storm Zet” officers and went over to the side of Ukraine, – GUR
In the winter of 2024, a Russian FPV pilot decided to cooperate with the Legion “Freedom of Russia”. He did this because of the systematic war… pic.twitter.com/cp0AnEQFqq
— 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐚 𝐊𝐎𝐌𝐒𝐀 | 🇪🇺🇫🇷🇵🇱🇺🇦 (@tweet4Anna_NAFO) August 20, 2024
On the night of his escape, Silver threw grenades into the unit’s headquarters, targeting the sleeping area of his commander and senior officers. The explosion severely wounded the battalion commander and caused significant chaos within the unit. Taking advantage of the confusion, Silver planted anti-infantry mines on the escape route before making his way to Ukrainian-controlled territory via a pre-arranged path.
Upon reaching Ukraine, Silver was debriefed by HUR, providing intelligence on Russian military positions, equipment, and operational plans. He has since joined the Freedom of Russia Legion and is undergoing training to continue fighting against the Russian regime.
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