A Russian couple, Sergei and Tatyana Voronkov, became informants for the Ukrainian army from their home in occupied Ukraine after the 2022 invasion, a decision that led to detention, escape, and a life as asylum seekers. Their story highlights the personal stakes and risks faced by individuals caught between sides in the conflict.
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Sergei and Tatyana Voronkov, the Russian couple who became informants for Ukraine.
Moving to Ukraine
Sergei and Tatyana Voronkov had grown disillusioned with Russia under Vladimir Putin. Following Moscow’s annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014, they openly criticised the action. Faced with the suggestion to leave if they disagreed, the couple, both Russian citizens, decided to relocate to Ukraine, Tatyana’s birthplace.
They eventually settled in 2019 in Novolyubymivka, a village of about 300 people in the south-eastern Zaporizhzhia region. They adopted four dogs and began raising livestock. Sergei, 55, utilised his background from the Soviet army to work as a land surveyor. They hoped for a peaceful life.
Sergei and Tatyana Voronkov in Moscow before relocating to Ukraine.
Becoming Informants
The quiet life they sought was shattered by Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. The first rockets flew over their home, and they quickly found themselves in occupied territory.
When a Russian military convoy passed their home for the first time, Tatyana, 52, decided to act. She messaged an acquaintance in Kyiv believed to have contacts within Ukraine’s security services. This contact provided a link to a Telegram chatbot.
The couple were asked to provide details and locations of Russian military equipment they observed, specifically electronic warfare systems, missile systems, and tanks. This information would help the Ukrainian army target Russian positions with drones and artillery.
Tatyana stated that they did not view their actions as treason. Both she and Sergei maintain that the information they provided did not result in any strikes on civilians or civilian infrastructure. They described their actions as “a fight against evil.”
A convoy of Russian military trucks on a road.
For two years, Sergei collected coordinates, and Tatyana transmitted them via her phone whenever internet access was available in their village. They would delete all traces of their messages afterwards.
Detention and Release
Their activities came to an end in April 2024 when Sergei was detained by armed men while shopping for gardening seeds in the regional centre of Tokmak.
Interrogation in a Pit
Sergei stated he was taken to an abandoned house and held in a cold basement pit, about two metres wide and three metres deep, where he had to sleep in a squatting position. The following day, he was interrogated about passing information to Ukrainians. He reported that a bag was kept over his head during questioning and he was threatened with violence.
After initially denying his involvement, Sergei confessed on the fourth day of his captivity. He stated he feared that violence might lead him to accidentally implicate others.
Meanwhile, Tatyana searched desperately for news of his whereabouts, travelling locally and contacting hospitals and morgues. Their son, who remained near Moscow, contacted various authorities in Russia. Ten days after Sergei’s arrest, security forces searched the Voronkovs’ home, finding and seizing $4,400 hidden in their garden.
Shortly after, Tatyana was informed that her husband was “sitting in a basement” and was with Russia’s security services, the FSB. Weeks later, after 37 days in captivity, Sergei was reportedly made to confess to assisting Ukraine on camera by individuals who identified themselves as FSB officers.
However, he was unexpectedly released two days later, though most of his documents, including his passport, were confiscated. The Voronkovs stated they do not understand why he was released. The BBC understands that such detentions and releases without clear explanations are not uncommon in Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine, where legal processes can lack transparency.
Sergei Voronkov with his pets at his home in Novolyubymivka, Ukraine.
Planning the Escape
In the weeks following Sergei’s release, the couple suspected they were under surveillance. Cars frequently drove up to their home, and strangers asked if they were selling items. Believing they would not be left alone, they began planning their departure.
After consulting human rights activists, Sergei and Tatyana decided to try to reach Lithuania. This required Sergei first travelling to Russia to obtain a new passport. Their neighbours in Novolyubymivka assisted by purchasing their livestock and household appliances. A significant concern for Sergei was finding new homes for their dogs, which they managed to do.
The Journey to Europe
The couple set off in their car towards Russia. To avoid scrutiny by Russian forces, they devised a cover story about going to the beach for Tatyana’s asthma, even bringing a straw hat and a rubber ring as props. They were not stopped.
Initially denied entry into Russia, they were eventually allowed across the border after Sergei provided proof he had applied for a new passport. Delays in obtaining the official passport and a failed attempt to leave Russia via Belarus led Sergei to purchase a fake passport through Telegram.
Using the forged document, the couple travelled by bus to Belarus and crossed the border into Lithuania, a member of the European Union and a strong ally of Ukraine. Sergei was detained upon arrival in Lithuania for using fake documents.
Life as Asylum Seekers
A Lithuanian court later found Sergei guilty of using a fake passport. Despite this, the couple are now living in a shelter for asylum seekers in Lithuania and hope to settle there permanently.
The Ukrainian army, at the request of their former handler in Kyiv, sent the couple a letter of thanks to support their asylum application. The BBC has seen a copy of this letter. The BBC has also reviewed documents from official bodies in both Russia and Ukraine that corroborate the Voronkovs’ account of events. These documents are not being reproduced to protect identities.
Border crossing point, similar to those encountered by the couple during their escape journey.
Family Impact
The Voronkovs’ actions have created significant rifts within their family. Their son, who remains in Russia, reportedly stopped communicating with his parents after learning what they had done. Sergei’s 87-year-old mother still lives in Russia and supports the war and President Putin.
A Refusal to Return
Despite the challenges and familial strain, the couple stated they are adamant about never returning to Russia under present circumstances. “Only if it starts showing some humanity,” Sergei commented. “For now, I see nothing human there.”
