Russian Drone Operator from Rubikon Center Defects to Ukraine After Witnessing War Crimes

Miroslav Simonov was forced into service with the Russian Armed Forces, hoping to join his father's unit. Instead, the Russian army sent him to a drone warfare unit and subsequently to the notorious Rubikon training center.

Witnessing how casually Russian commanders ordered the execution of prisoners of war and justified the killing of civilians, Simonov concluded that surrendering was the only moral choice. Russian military officials caught him attempting to desert and reassigned him to a "meat assault" brigade - units notorious for catastrophic casualty rates.

Already aware of Ukraine's "I Want to Live" project, Simonov used the opportunity during frontline operations to cross over and join Ukrainian forces.

The "I Want to Live" initiative provides Russian soldiers with a verified channel to surrender safely, offering an alternative to participation in war crimes. Simonov's case demonstrates the growing disillusionment within Russian army recruitment pools, as conscripts and contract soldiers increasingly recognize the criminal nature of Moscow's invasion.

His defection underscores the moral crisis within the russian armed forces, where orders to murder russian prisoners of war and civilians have become routine. The Rubikon center, known for training drone operators, has now produced at least one serviceman who rejected participation in Russia's genocidal campaign.

The February 2026 defection adds to the mounting evidence that russia ukraine war participants are seeking exits from Putin's military machine. Details of Simonov's crossing are available through the project's YouTube channel: