Once Russian soldiers in Ukraine, the two men fled the battlefield. Ilia Veitsler, 22, and Danil Arkhipov, 24, are among the few dozen Russian deserters who have found refuge in Europe. "If Putin wins this war, he will have carte blanche for further offensives. He must be stopped! That's also why I deserted," said Danil, with a determined tone, but also a haunted gaze, speaking over coffee in Paris. "On the front lines, I understood that this invasion of Ukraine was a crime against humanity, against a brother nation, so I refused to participate in it," said Ilia, with the same composure, speaking alongside his wife in the Eastern French city of Metz, where they now live after fleeing across Europe.

Despite the risks, Ilia and Danil spoke openly, without hiding their identities. Sharing their stories publicly was a form of psychological release. They are wanted by Moscow, and they also hoped that publicizing their experiences would guarantee them some form of safety. "The Kremlin's special services agents in Europe are less likely to target a well-known deserter than a hidden one," the two men argued.

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