Belarusian journalist poses as pro-Russian reporter to interview Russian soldiers

A Belarusian investigative journalist has gone undercover as a pro-Russian media worker to interview active-duty Russian soldiers about their willingness to fight, including against NATO, Danish broadcaster DR reports.

Tatsiana Ashurkevich, a 26-year-old freelance journalist exiled in London, made calls to the front lines in Ukraine while posing as a reporter for Russian state-controlled outlets. She prepared a detailed cover story to avoid suspicion.

In January and February 2026, she spoke with several soldiers, whose names have been changed to protect their identities. Their responses reveal a mix of exhaustion, resignation, and continued loyalty to the idea of defending Russia.

One soldier, identified as Ivan, said he had been mobilized since 2022 and was weary of losing friends. “I have many friends that I now only visit at the cemetery. It’s very hard psychologically,” he said. Yet when asked if he would support a new conflict, he replied: “How could you not? It’s all about Russia’s security. The question is just who really needs it.” He added that if NATO attacked, there would be no choice but to fight, despite widespread fatigue: “The mood is that everyone is incredibly tired, but if it comes to it, we’ll just have to endure a little longer.”

Another, Timofej, expressed doubt that Europe would go to war with Russia, suggesting Western support for Ukraine was meant to contain the conflict. “God forbid we succeed in Ukraine—then our authorities would get the idea we could do the same to Europe under certain circumstances,” he said. He described soldiers as having no real agency: “A soldier is essentially a person without will. In any other job, you can quit. A soldier can’t.” He admitted to having done things he believed were wrong but felt compelled to accept: “At first I tried to justify it to myself, then I realized I had to stop—you just have to make peace with it.”

Artem, despite injuries and worsening health, said the losses were worthwhile. “There’s no war without casualties. If there were no purpose, no victories, just losses, that would be very sad.” He insisted Russia must not retreat: “Either our country ends up under NATO as some insignificant part of it… or it remains a powerful country. Tired or not, we’re obligated to keep moving forward.” He added that if called upon to defend the homeland, he would go, even in his condition: “For the sake of my family and children, so they don’t have to live under some kind of fascism and chaos, but in a peaceful country.”

Kolja, who described himself as a natural patriot, echoed the sentiment of duty, though his full remarks were not detailed in the report.

DR, as part of its documentary series Krigsplan Europa (War Plan Europe), initiated the investigation to assess whether Russia is preparing for a broader conflict with Europe and how soldiers view the West. The broadcaster stated that Ashurkevich did not steer conversations toward predetermined outcomes and that the method was chosen because such insights could not be obtained otherwise.