"From Disillusionment to Informants: The Voronkovs' Journey Amidst the Ukraine Conflict"

Sergei and Tatyana Voronkov, disillusioned by Russia's actions and seeking a peaceful life in Ukraine, became informants in the fight against Russian aggression. After facing severe consequences, including Sergei's detention and threats, they made a daring escape to Lithuania, leaving behind their old lives and family divisions.

Sergei and Tatyana Voronkov's story began long before the current war: disenchanted with Vladimir Putin's Russia, they left their homeland following the annexation of Crimea in 2014. Tatyana, a native of Ukraine, and Sergei settled in the small village of Novolyubymivka in the Zaporizhzhia region, hoping for a tranquil life with their four dogs and livestock. However, their peace was shattered when Russia launched its full invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, prompting them to act against their former country.

When a Russian military convoy passed by their home, Tatyana reached out to contacts in Kyiv, leading them to become informants for Ukraine's security services. Over the next two years, using secure communication methods, they relayed information about Russian military positions, believing their actions to be a righteous fight against tyranny. "We didn't think of it as treason," Tatyana stated, asserting their actions were aimed at combating evil rather than attacking their homeland.

Their covert operation met with severe consequences when Sergei was detained by Russian authorities while shopping for seeds in Tokmak in April 2024. He endured harsh interrogations in a cold pit where he was coerced into confessing to aiding Ukraine after several days of captivity. Meanwhile, Tatyana fought frantically to locate her husband, and after 37 days, Sergei was unexpectedly released, albeit under surveillance from Russian forces.

Faced with the perpetual threat of re-arrest, the Voronkovs devised a plan to escape to Lithuania. With the help of supportive neighbors in Ukraine, they sold their possessions and crafted a cover story to cross back into Russia, where Sergei needed a passport. After successfully navigating initial barriers and using a forged document to cross into Lithuania, the couple was faced with further challenges, including Sergei's brief detention for the fake passport usage.

Despite these obstacles, the Voronkovs now reside in a shelter for asylum seekers in Lithuania, supported by a letter of gratitude from the Ukrainian Army for their assistance. Their actions have created a painful divide within their family: their son in Russia has ceased communication with them, and Sergei’s mother remains supportive of the war and Putin's regime.

Now, they express no desire to return to Russia unless there is a fundamental change in its governance. "Only if it starts showing some humanity," Sergei declares, echoing the sentiments of many who have fled oppressive regimes in search of freedom and safety.