'We didn't see it as treason': The Russian couple who became informants for Ukraine

Sergei and Tatyana Voronkov are a couple who once lived in Russia but decided to move to Ukraine because they were unhappy with the way things were in their home country. They had been critical of the Russian government and its leader, Vladimir Putin, for many years. Their discontent grew after Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014, which prompted them to leave. Tatyana was born in Ukraine, and they eventually settled in a small village called Novolyubymivka, located in the southeastern Zaporizhzhia region. The village is home to about 300 people, and the couple hoped to enjoy a quiet life there, raising livestock and taking care of their four dogs. Sergei, who is 55 years old, found work as a land surveyor, a job he had during his time in the Soviet army. However, their peaceful existence was disrupted when Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Tatyana recalls the terrifying moment when she heard a loud whistling sound and saw a rocket flying over their house. They quickly realized that they were in a dangerous situation and decided to take action by becoming informants for Ukraine. They did not view their decision as treason but rather as a necessary step to fight against what they perceived as evil. Tatyana reached out to a contact in Kyiv, who provided her with a link to a chatbot on the messaging app Telegram. This chatbot connected them with Ukrainian security services, and they began to share information about Russian military movements, including the locations of missile systems and tanks. Their information was crucial for the Ukrainian army to target and destroy Russian troops in their area. For two years, Sergei collected coordinates, and Tatyana transmitted the information from her phone, ensuring to delete all traces of their communications. However, their secret work came to a halt when Sergei was detained in April 2024 while shopping for gardening seeds. He was taken to an abandoned house and interrogated in a cold basement pit. During his captivity, he was threatened with violence and forced to confess to his involvement with Ukraine. Meanwhile, Tatyana was desperately searching for information about Sergei's whereabouts, contacting hospitals and morgues. After ten days, security forces searched their home and discovered hidden money. Tatyana was informed that Sergei was with Russia's security services, the FSB. After 37 days in captivity, Sergei was made to confess on camera to assisting Ukraine, but he was released two days later, leaving them confused about why he was freed. In the weeks following his release, they felt they were being watched, which led them to plan their escape to Lithuania. They needed to return to Russia to obtain a new passport for Sergei, and their neighbors helped them by buying their livestock and belongings. They created a cover story about going to the beach to avoid suspicion from Russian forces. After some challenges, including being initially denied entry into Russia, they managed to enter and eventually traveled to Lithuania. However, Sergei was caught with a fake passport and faced legal issues there. Now, they are living in a shelter for asylum seekers in Lithuania, hoping to start anew. They received a letter of thanks from the Ukrainian army, which will support their asylum application. Their actions have caused rifts in their family, especially with their son, who no longer speaks to them. Despite the challenges, Sergei and Tatyana are determined never to return to Russia unless it changes for the better.