A Russian soldier who didn't want to fight in Ukraine and went into hiding after fleeing his post says 'none of us wanted this war'

A Russian soldier who went into hiding to avoid the war in Ukraine said that most of his fellow soldiers did not want to go.

Albert Sakhibgareev told The Wall Street Journal that they didn't want the war.

The young man was stationed at a military base in Russia near the border with Ukraine. On the morning of February 24, the day Russia launched its full-scale invasion, shelling landed within two miles of his location and military aircraft in the sky appeared to be heading to Ukraine, The Journal reported. Sakhibgareev panicked and left the base when he saw a headline on Telegram that said "Russia Invades Ukraine".

According to a report published by The Journal on Wednesday, hundreds of Russian soldiers have deserted or refused to fight since the war in Ukraine began. According to The Guardian, at least 115 Russian national guardsmen were fired after they refused to fight.

Heavy losses Russian troops have experienced in Ukraine have compounded the unwillingness to fight. The UK's defense ministry said last month that Russia had lost one-third of its ground combat forces in Ukraine.

After months of setbacks, including getting pushed out of Kyiv and Kharkiv, Russian forces have made recent gains in the Donbas region. Analysts told Bill Bostock that the advances for Russia marked a reversal from earlier stages of the war.

Russian military officials persuaded Sakhibgareev to come back but allowed him to go to a base further from battle, The Journal reported. Almaz Nabiev told the outlet that the military could still charge Sakhibgareev with desertion.

There have been reports of low spirits among Russian soldiers. The Russian soldier said his commander shot himself in the leg so he could go home.