Defecting And Carrying Tanks, Former Ukrainian Army Gets Russian Citizenship

Ukrainian T-64 Tanks. (Source: Dmitry Yagodkin / TASS)

JAKARTA - Former Ukrainian soldiers who defected and brought tanks to Russia, received citizenship status, said a law enforcement source in the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR).

"Maxim Likhachev received a Russian passport and is now a citizen of the Russian Federation," the source told TASS, as quoted July 4.

Likhachev himself described the passport as "a long-awaited document."

Last May, Likhachev surrendered to Russian troops near Donetsk. He arrived at the agreed place by boarding Ukraine's T-64 tank.

"Maxim Likhachev, a former Ukrainian 110th brigade soldier. He joined us near Donetsk aboard Ukraine's T-64 tank," TASS reported at the time.

Citing74k, Likhachev said he left his location close to the Ukrainian city of Avdivka, which has been in Moscow's control since February 2024, after months of fierce fighting and claimed many casualties.

The Ukrainian military itself often says the area around Avdivka is one of the fiercest sectors up for grabs from hundreds of miles of frontlines in eastern Ukraine.

"When everyone ran away, I took advantage of it," he said.

"We have prepared all of this for a long time: both me and the people on the other hand are waiting for the right time," said Likhachev.

Likhachev told state media he had been friends with some Russian citizens during his stay in Poland between 2021 and 2022. They had advised him to leave his position with Ukrainian troops on the battlefield in armored vehicles.

Previously, Likhachev was transferred to the 119th territorial defense brigade in February 2024 and a month later to the 59th mechanical infantry brigade.

In June, security officials in the House of Representatives claimed the tanks carried by Likhachev were used to destroy Ukrainian army positions near Chasov Yar.