Against the power and war in Ukraine, Alexander left Russia in early October and fled to France. She reports heavy losses in the ranks of the Russian military.
Since leaving Russia in early October, Alexander Zlodeev has been trying to “hide” somehow. “Very few know where I am today,” said the 53-year-old. A former member of the Wagner militia, that private company of Russian soldiers, he chose to flee power and the war in Ukraine. Today he is considered a “deserter” in Moscow.
“A person I know in Russia, an opponent of power, was shot. So even if I’m in France, I’m scared for my life,” he told BFMTV.
After leaving Russia, he passed through Algeria for a few days, then had to wait a week in the waiting area at Roissy-Charles de Gaulle airport for the administrative court to accept his entry into French soil. He now wants to be granted political asylum. Because if he had stayed in Russia he would certainly have been imprisoned as he is one of the people who can be mobilized to go to Ukraine and fight.
“Heavy casualties” in the Russian army
Alexander Zlodeev was a member of the Wagner militia from 2014 to 2017. Although he was not sent directly to the front, he worked in the private company’s IT and logistics and took part in several operations, including in the Donbass in the Lugansk region, and in Syria.
With close ties between the Wagner militia and the Russian Defense Ministry, he initially considered joining the Russian army before realizing in 2017 that he was a mercenary. One click for Alexander who decides to change his life by working as a computer scientist in the private sector.
He claims to still receive messages from some of his former colleagues who are still in the militia but also in the Defense Ministry. “I received messages saying there were heavy casualties, estimated at more than 80% of the soldiers, according to one of my acquaintances,” he says.
“They also tell me that the mood is not good, even with Wagner. I have many contacts who tell me that they are against the war, that they are fed up with it,” he told BFMTV.
Russian prisoners sent to the front
The man at the head of the Wagner militia, Evgueni Prigoyine, is close to Vladimir Putin, who does not hesitate to recruit prisoners into Russian prisons due to the lack of soldiers at his disposal. According to Alexander Zlodeev, it is these prisoners who are sent to the front to help other soldiers understand the position of the Ukrainians.
“I was personally shocked that prisoners were sent directly to the slaughterhouse,” denounces the former Wagner member.
“We could have avoided at least 50% of the deaths,” he estimates. “It was commanders who wanted to pander or look good who sent these soldiers to certain death.”
We’ll have to wait a few more months to find out if France is ready to grant Alexander political asylum.
Nelson Getten with Elisa Fernandez