Russian prisoners of war have joined the ranks of anti-Kremlin militias fighting alongside Ukraine against their homeland. One such militia, the Russian Volunteer Corps (RVC), under the command of former hooligan and known right-wing activist Denis Kapustin, has welcomed Russian soldiers into its ranks. Some prisoners, like Vlad and Mikhail Viktorovich Pavlov, expressed disillusionment with Russia and saw joining the Ukrainian forces as a chance for freedom and to contribute to their own country’s liberation. Despite some concerns about coercion, the recruits expressed their commitment to fighting for a new Russia and their desire to distance themselves from their homeland.