cover of episode The Deserter: Parts 1-3

The Deserter: Parts 1-3

2024/9/29
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Chapters

Ivan, a Russian army captain, met and fell in love with Anna. Disillusioned by corruption and pointless tasks within the military, Ivan planned to retire. However, Russia's invasion of Ukraine disrupted everything.
  • Ivan, a Russian army captain, met Anna and they fell in love.
  • Disillusioned with the corruption and ineffectiveness of the Russian military, Ivan planned to retire and become a web designer.
  • The invasion of Ukraine disrupted Ivan's plans.

Shownotes Transcript

In “The Deserter,” Sarah A. Topol reports the story of Ivan, a captain in the Russian Army who fought in Ukraine and then ultimately fled the war and his country with his wife, Anna. Topol spoke to 18 deserters while reporting in eight countries across four continents over the last year and a half; their experiences helped paint a vivid picture of the Russian war operation and its corruption, chaos and brutality.

Narrated by Liev Schreiber.

“The Deserter” is a five-part special series in collaboration with The New York Times Magazine.