Interview with captive native of Donetsk region who fought in 83rd Guards Air Assault Brigade of RF Armed Forces

Volodymyr Volodymyrovych Simonov, born on March 12, 1981, was born, raised, and worked in the city of Dobropillia, Donetsk region — in Ukraine. In 2014, after the onset of Russian aggression, he gathered his family and fled to Russia, settling in Tula. Ten years later, in March 2025, Simonov made his final choice: he signed a contract with the Russian Ministry of Defense and returned to Ukraine as part of the occupying army.

He served with the 83rd Guards Air Assault Brigade of the RF Armed Forces, the same unit that committed atrocities in Bucha in 2022, including torture, executions of civilians, and mass killings on the streets. For his first combat sortie, Simonov was awarded the rank of junior lieutenant.

***

Vladimir Vladimirovich Simonov. Born on March 12, 1981, in the city of Dobropole, Donetsk region. Currently residing in Tula, Russia. My position is group commander, rank – junior lieutenant. 83rd Ussuriysk Brigade.

The war began in 2014. I decided to gather my family and move to Russia so that my children would not witness the war.

Doesn’t it seem strange to you that you move to the country that started the war in order for your children not to see war? Don’t you find it paradoxical?

On television, they claimed the opposite that Ukraine attacked Donbas.

How can Ukraine attack Donbas if Donbas is part of Ukraine?

I don’t know, I’m not very interested in politics.

This isn’t about politics, it’s common sense. I’m just curious.

As far as I know, at that time, Russia was not attacking.

But how did you see the events of 2014 in Ukraine?

The army came from Kyiv, and it turned out that civilians started forming a human shield to make them return. They just began shooting.

Where did this happen? In Dobropole?

Yes, in Dobropole.

Where exactly?

Near the railway station.

Some were killed, others left.

Did you see this personally?

No, I didn’t see it myself. That’s what people said.

People said?

Yes, while I was at work.

Where did you work?

At a mine.

Which one exactly?

Pokrovska.

What was your position at the mine?

At the mine, I worked both as an assistant manager and deputy manager.

The beginning was difficult in Russia. I arrived, got a job at an auto repair shop, worked, rented an apartment, and worked on obtaining citizenship.

How quickly did you get citizenship?

Well, the whole family took a year to get citizenship. We stood in queues, and I immediately brought my parents as well. Well, how did I bring them? I convinced them to move too. They went to join my brother in Khanty-Mansiysk.

How many children do you have?

Currently, three.

And you worked in Tula all that time, right?

Yes.

Until when?

Until March.

Until 2025?

Yes.

You decided to sign a contract?

Yes, I decided to sign a contract to keep the apartment. I took the apartment on a mortgage.

How much did you have to pay off?

3.6 million.

How much were you promised for signing the contract?

2 million.

Did you receive that money?

Yes.

Did it all go toward the loan?

Yes.

After signing the contract, I went, well, we were taken to Luhansk. There was a boot camp there for a month. We ran, fired weapons. They threw blank grenades. Mostly, we practiced movement and shooting. Shooting blanks. I think it was because the instructors were probably afraid.

Afraid?

Yeah, so no one would accidentally hurt each other. It happened that someone accidentally shot another due to improper weapon handling.

Now it’s a drone war, right? Were you trained to shoot down drones, like FPV drones?

Yes, we were trained. To dodge them. And you shoot blanks at a wooden mock-up.

A wooden FPV drone mock-up on a rope, tall breastwork. One person launches it, another dodges. After boot camp, they assign people to units. Then everyone was gathered, loaded, and sent to the 83rd unit. They said our platoon would be holding the consolidated positions constantly, that is, the assault troops storm in, and we take up the consolidated defensive positions behind them.

Did you undergo any training or exercises at the Kursk training ground?

Yes.

For how long?

About a month as well.

So this was brigade-level training, right?

Probably.

How was it different from the training you had before?

We trained in alpine terrain.

Navigation?

Yes.

Every day?

Every day. They put maximum focus on alpine quests and navigation, so you could orient yourself well. Yes. Here, they trained us to shoot at real drones.

Were there people who possibly wanted to leave the training ground, the unit, or the brigade?

Were there? They did leave.

Did they leave?

Yes.

They just left, and that’s it? How is that possible?

Well, they ran away, then they were found, caught, and brought back.

What was the punishment for that?

They were put in a pit and beaten for escaping.

Did you buy any equipment yourself?

Yes. Body armor, uniform, boots, helmet.

Why body armor and helmet?

The issued gear is uncomfortable.

Does everyone do that? Buy their own?

Yes.

How much does all that cost?

The armor costs 120,000, the helmet 18,000.

And what do they do with the issued gear? Just not use it?

No, they issue the armor, but it’s very heavy. Heavy and uncomfortable, because on the mission you have to march 15–20 kilometers, and you get tired very quickly. Plus, on top of that, you’re carrying the paratrooper’s backpack, it’s really tough.

What was your first combat mission?

To reach the position and hold it.

Where was this?

It was in Belovody. We marched for a long time, probably about a week, around 15 kilometers. We reached one position, stayed there, waited for the assault troops to pass, then moved to another position, waited again, and then to a third position—and that was it. We stayed there for a month.

Holding the consolidated positions?

Yes.

Did you have any problems with food or water while you were there for a month?

For the first eight days, yes.

You ate what you brought with you. Water came from a well, sometimes from a swamp. After that, there was nothing. We were relieved and returned to the unit.

When were you promoted to junior lieutenant?

After that mission.

Were you the only one promoted?

Yes, only me.

Why?

When I was holding the position, the commander asked me to lead people past my point so that neither FPV nor Mavic drones would notice.

I did all of that.

Was it such a dangerous zone that FPV drones were active?

Yes, many FPVs flew there, a lot of Mavics too.

And you successfully guided everyone through?

Yes.

Without losses?

Yes.

So, you’re good with navigation, I take it?

Yes.

What are the losses of the 83rd Guards Air Assault Brigade? Do you know?

The assault troops suffered heavy losses. Fifty went in, about three remained.

Which company was that?

If I’m not mistaken, the 11th.

When were you captured? What was the date?

I don’t know the exact date, but it was two days ago.

How did it happen? That was your second combat sortie, right?

Yes.

Please tell us how that happened.

The commander said that the assault troops had already passed through and that we needed to secure a specific position.

Where was that?

Near the village of Yablonivka.

Sumy region?

Yes.

You were given a position to enter. How many people were in your group?

Initially, four people, then two more joined.

Six?

Yes.

Were you the group commander?

Yes. I stayed awake all night, on duty with half the group. Then the other half was supposed to stay on duty. In the end, everyone fell asleep. They pointed weapons at me and told me my war was over.

Tell me, how do you think Ukrainians should treat you? I’m just curious. You’re a person who decided to go to Russia in 2014. Okay, yes, you went and got citizenship. But ten years later, you’re fighting with weapons against the people, against Ukraine, the country you lived in.

Honestly, I don’t know.

You have done a lot for Russia. Do you think Russia will do as much for you as you have for it?

I find that question difficult to answer.

Why?

Why? Well, I’m not the one who decides.

But you went there believing it was better, that relations were better, right? So when you signed the contract, you consciously made what you thought was a better choice. And now that better side should make a step toward you. Or not?

Probably, yes.