After Moscow’s annexation of Crimea in 2014, Russian couple Sergei and Tatyana Voronkov left their homeland for Ukraine, unsettled by the Kremlin’s growing aggression. Settling in the small village of Novolyubymivka in Zaporizhzhia region, they built a quiet life, raising livestock and dogs. But peace shattered in 2022 when Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, turning their adopted home into a war zone.
Witnessing Russian convoys and missile systems near their home, the couple secretly began feeding information to Ukraine’s military through a secure Telegram channel. “We didn’t see it as treason,” Tatyana said. “This was a fight against evil.”
For two years, Sergei gathered military coordinates while Tatyana transmitted them discreetly online. But their covert mission unraveled in April 2024 when Sergei was abducted by Russian forces while shopping. He was held in a basement, interrogated, and forced to confess on video to collaborating with Ukrainian forces. Surprisingly, after 37 days, he was released without explanation, though his documents were seized.
Realizing they were under surveillance and fearing re-arrest, the Voronkovs plotted their escape. With help from villagers who bought their belongings and rehomed their dogs, they left under the guise of a beach trip. Returning briefly to Russia to secure a passport, Sergei eventually resorted to purchasing a forged one through Telegram. The couple managed to reach Lithuania via Belarus, though Sergei was detained and convicted for using fake documents.
Now residing in a Lithuanian asylum shelter, the Voronkovs have received a letter of gratitude from the Ukrainian army, supporting their asylum bid. However, their choices have deeply fractured their family. Their son in Russia has severed ties, and Sergei’s elderly mother, a war supporter, remains in the country.
Despite the personal cost, Sergei and Tatyana remain resolute. “We will never return to Russia,” they affirm, standing by their decision to resist tyranny in their own way.
