Petr Ruzavin, a former Russian opposition journalist, has transitioned from reporting on the conflict in Ukraine to actively participating in the fighting alongside Ukrainian forces. Born in Moscow in 1991, Ruzavin built his career as a presenter for TV Rain, a Russian opposition channel now banned by Moscow, and also contributed to Mediazona, a platform established by members of the anti-Kremlin group Pussy Riot. He was married to Nataliya Gumenyuk, a Ukrainian journalist, and was living in Kyiv when Russia launched its military operation in Ukraine in February 2022.
As the war progressed, Ruzavin, who was the only Russian journalist permanently based in Ukraine, felt compelled to move beyond reportage. By mid-2023, he decided that writing and producing documentaries were no longer sufficient responses to the invasion. He expressed a desire to take direct action, a decision that became feasible in spring 2024 when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed legislation permitting foreigners to join the National Guard. Ruzavin enlisted in the 13th National Guard Brigade, a unit known as Khartiia, and took on duties in a drone squad operating in the Kharkiv region. His work involved flying reconnaissance and heavy-strike drones.
During his service, Ruzavin sustained a leg injury after a Russian drone and mortar attack, and a fellow soldier was seriously wounded but survived. Despite the risks, Ruzavin remains committed to his role, describing such dangers as “occupational hazards.” Classified as a “foreign agent” by Russia in June 2024, he does not anticipate returning to Moscow under the current leadership. He has voiced a belief that as long as Vladimir Putin remains Russia’s president, the conflict will persist.
Ruzavin’s move reflects broader sentiments among some Russian liberals, many of whom grapple with guilt over their perceived inability to prevent Russia’s aggression or the erosion of democratic freedoms at home. However, Ruzavin prefers to focus on practical support for Ukraine rather than dwelling on these issues. He currently serves as a staff sergeant in Volt Lab, a unit within Khartiia’s 23rd RUG assault regiment that focuses on drone technology development and battlefield adaptation.
The intensifying Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian cities, including Moscow and St. Petersburg, form part of Kyiv’s strategy to increase the costs of war for Moscow. Ruzavin regards these operations as necessary components of the conflict, viewing them from a pragmatic standpoint. While he has been fighting since May 2024, he only publicly disclosed his involvement on social media last year. Since then, he reports receiving numerous messages from Russians interested in supporting Ukraine’s defense.
When questioned about the violence he has been part of, Ruzavin acknowledged the harsh realities of warfare, noting the tension between his liberal upbringing—which emphasizes respect for human life—and the necessity of violence in combat. While he declined to detail his combat actions, he expressed no enthusiasm for killing but affirmed its inescapability in war.