Survival Tactics: Ivan, a soldier, pretends to have a serious back injury to avoid returning to battle. He cleverly navigates the military hospital system to secure the surgery he needs for survival amid the chaos of war.
Ivan is a soldier trying to avoid being sent back to the front lines after getting injured. He feigns a serious back injury to get a medical evacuation and insists on needing surgery. While navigating a chaotic military hospital, he cleverly manipulates his symptoms and relies on connections to secure proper treatment. Ivan understands that surviving the war requires playing the system, using deception, and thinking strategically to protect himself from returning to a dangerous situation. His journey reflects the harsh realities of war and the lengths soldiers go to for survival. Ultimately, it’s a story about resilience, resourcefulness, and the human instinct to escape peril, no matter the cost.
Fleeing War: Ivan fakes needing surgery to escape the war and reunite with Anna. They devise a risky plan to leave Russia while facing numerous obstacles, driven by love and hope for a future together.
Ivan, a captain in the Russian military, pretends to need surgery to escape the war and return to safety with his partner Anna. He navigates the complicated military medical system and considers various ways to avoid returning to combat. Together, they plan to leave Russia, understanding it won't be easy, and he may have to resort to extreme measures to obtain a passport and join her. Their love drives them to strategize carefully, but the risks are high, and the outcome uncertain. Ivan's desire to survive and protect his future with Anna keeps him hopeful amidst the chaotic backdrop of war.
Clever Deception: Ivan devised a clever plan to swap his fake passport with the original by using a modified notebook. His detailed preparation and stealth led to a successful exchange without being caught, highlighting the importance of creativity and careful planning in achieving goals.
Ivan wanted to get a fake passport to escape but faced many challenges. He learned about how to create a replica online but it arrived without important features. To switch it without getting caught, he practiced a complex scheme, ultimately succeeding by using a clever notebook method to swap the passports unseen. His careful planning and preparation allowed him to outsmart the HR officer and manage the risky task without raising suspicion, showing how determination and creativity can help overcome obstacles.
Desperate Escape: Ivan seeks to escape from military service by cleverly devising a plan to use a fake passport, navigating borders cautiously while fearing the consequences of being labeled a deserter.
Ivan is desperate to escape the war and secure his future. After obtaining a fake passport, he plans a careful journey through Belarus to reach safety. He fears being detained as a deserter and consciously avoids using his passport at the border. Ivan has to act fast, exploiting loopholes in the military system to unofficially resign and thus pursue a new life far away from conflict. The tension mounts as he navigates the challenges, showcasing both his resourcefulness and the incredible pressure soldiers face in such oppressive circumstances.
Journey to Freedom: Ivan's escape from conflict highlights the complexity and risks of seeking freedom. Despite numerous challenges, his reunion with Anna symbolizes hope and the promise of a new life together.
Ivan's journey illustrates the intense struggles of individuals fleeing conflict and the lengths they go to find freedom. From navigating airport security to dealing with deceitful ticket salesmen, each step for him and his partner Anna was fraught with challenges. Their love and commitment to building a new life motivate them to endure the hardships. Despite fear and uncertainty, they finally reunite, marking a new beginning in a different land. Each decision made, from Ivan's attempt to evade military duty to Anna's preparation for their new life, highlights the complexity of seeking safety. They understand that while their journey continues with legal challenges ahead, their most significant achievement is the bond they share and their determination to face the future together, away from the turmoil they escaped.
Trust and Danger: Anna sought help for her family's asylum but encountered a threatening man with ties to the Russian military. Trusting strangers in dangerous situations can lead to unforeseen risks, showcasing the challenges faced by those escaping conflict.
Anna and her husband, Ivan, faced immense challenges after fleeing Russia due to his involvement in the war. Seeking help to secure their future, Anna encountered a friendly man who initially seemed supportive but turned threatening, revealing his true intentions connected to the Russian GRU. Feeling vulnerable yet desperate, Anna ultimately chose to escape from this unsettling situation, highlighting the dangers faced by those escaping conflict and the precariousness of trust in such dire times. Her experience illustrates the complex realities and moral ambiguities of seeking safety from oppressive regimes, where help can often come with hidden motives.
Escape and Sacrifice: Escaping oppressive regimes like Russia is fraught with fear and sacrifice, as many face threats and losses in their search for safety and freedom.
Fear and guilt dominate the lives of those who escape oppressive regimes like Russia. Anna's emotional turmoil after giving up her partner reflects the heavy price of such escapes. Deserters face constant threats and harrowing choices, haunted by the risks of revealing their identities or staying silent. Many lose their loved ones or suffer violence simply for seeking safety, while others bear the burden of survival at the expense of their families. The struggle for freedom often involves unimaginable sacrifices, making it clear that the pursuit of a better life comes with profound challenges and fears.
Desertion Dilemma: Russians are fleeing military conscription amid the brutal war, facing fear, moral dilemmas, and government oppression, while grappling with their roles in this conflict and the desire for freedom.
Many Russians are desperately fleeing military conscription amid a brutal war in Ukraine, struggling with fear and uncertainty about their future. Their journeys are full of risks, with many forced to confront moral dilemmas regarding loyalty, survival, and the horrors they witness. Some see themselves as heroes, while others feel guilt for not resisting. The Russian government's tightening grip makes it harder to evade service, leading to relentless recruitment despite the high casualties. Ultimately, as families mourn their losses and soldiers grapple with their roles in the war, the desire for freedom clashes with the heavy burden of guilt and the realities of life under a brutal regime. Individuals have become pawns in a larger political game, yet many continue to seek refuge, hoping to escape not just the war but also the moral complexities that come with it.
Internal Conflict: Ivan’s journey showcases the internal conflict of a soldier caught in a morally complex war, exploring the price of loyalty and conformity under an oppressive regime.
Ivan, a Russian lieutenant who served in Ukraine, grapples with his military identity and the moral complexities of war. Raised to see military service as central to his life, he acknowledges his role in the conflict. Despite not feeling obligated to honor fallen soldiers, he deeply cares about their sacrifice. Ivan reflects on how the war has impacted his family and society, revealing a profound sense of anger towards the regime's control over his life and choices. He yearns for a better future for his children while struggling with guilt and understanding the bloodshed they are all connected to. His story is one of the difficult choices faced by individuals in an oppressive system, highlighting the personal toll of war and conformity. It illustrates the conflict between duty and morality, reflecting the burdens carried by those who have served under a regime that has shaped their lives.
The Deserter: Parts 4 and 5
Recent Episodes from The Daily
Hurricane Helene’s 600 Miles of Destruction
Warning: This episode contains strong language and descriptions of death.
Over the past few days, Hurricane Helene has left a trail of devastation, killing more than 100 people, driving thousands from their homes and leaving millions without power.
Judson Jones, a meteorologist and weather reporter for The Times, and Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs, a Times national reporter, discuss the toll left by the deadly storm.
Guest:
- Judson Jones, a meteorologist and reporter for The New York Times.
- Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs, a national reporter for The New York Times.
Background reading:
- Hurricane Helene spawned flash floods and landslides as it barreled north after devastating parts of Florida’s Gulf Coast.
- In less than a day, Helene transformed from a Category 1 hurricane to a Category 4. Read about how that happened so quickly.
For more information on today’s episode, visit
. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.
Soon, you’ll need a subscription to keep full access to this show, and to other New York Times podcasts, on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Don’t miss out on exploring all of our shows, featuring everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts.
Alliance vs. Isolation: Harris and Trump’s Competing Views on Foreign Policy
As wars in Ukraine and the Middle East deepen, the U.S. presidential campaign is raising a crucial question: Whose idea of American foreign policy will the world get next?
Peter Baker, the chief White House correspondent for The Times, walks us through the plans put forward by Kamala Harris and by Donald J. Trump.
Guest: Peter Baker, the chief White House correspondent for The New York Times.
Background reading:
- Ms. Harris met with Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, signaling that the White House was preparing her to take over a thorny diplomatic relationship.
- Mr. Zelensky also met with Mr. Trump as concerns mount in Kyiv that a second Trump administration could spell the end of American support against Russia.
For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.
Soon, you’ll need a subscription to keep full access to this show, and to other New York Times podcasts, on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Don’t miss out on exploring all of our shows, featuring everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts.
The Deserter: Parts 4 and 5
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.
All five parts of this audio feature can be found here or by searching for “The Deserter” on the NYT Audio app or wherever you get your podcasts.
The text version of the story can be found here.
Soon, you’ll need a subscription to keep full access to this show, and to other New York Times podcasts, on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Don’t miss out on exploring all of our shows, featuring everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts.
The Deserter: Parts 1-3
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.
Soon, you’ll need a subscription to keep full access to this show, and to other New York Times podcasts, on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Don’t miss out on exploring all of our shows, featuring everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts.
'The Interview': John Oliver Is Still Working Through the Rage
The Criminal Indictment of New York City’s Mayor
For the first time in New York history, federal prosecutors have indicted the city’s sitting mayor, accusing him of accepting illegal campaign donations and luxury gifts in return for political favors.
Emma Fitzsimmons, the City Hall bureau chief for The Times, discusses the rise and fall of Mayor Eric Adams.
Guest: Emma G. Fitzsimmons, the City Hall bureau chief for The New York Times.
Background reading:
- The indictment plunges Mr. Adams’s embattled administration further into chaos just months before he is set to face challengers in a hotly contested primary.
- Here are the two ways Mr. Adams could be forced from office.
For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.
Soon, you’ll need a subscription to keep full access to this show, and to other New York Times podcasts, on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Don’t miss out on exploring all of our shows, featuring everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts.
The Profitable Business of Holding Patients Against Their Will
Warning: This episode contains descriptions of captivity, mental-health trauma and suicidal thoughts.
A Times investigation into a leading chain of psychiatric hospitals in the United States reveals a world where profits trump medical needs, and patients are detained against their will.
Jessica Silver-Greenberg, an investigative reporter for the Business section of The New York Times, tells the story of one woman who was trapped inside.
Guest: Jessica Silver-Greenberg, an investigative reporter for the Business section of The New York Times.
Background reading:
For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.
The Slide Toward War in Lebanon
In the past few days, Israel has waged intense air raids in Lebanon, killing more than 600 people, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry.
Ben Hubbard, the Istanbul bureau chief for The Times, explains the origins of the spiraling conflict between Israel and its regional adversary Hezbollah.
Guest: Ben Hubbard, the Istanbul bureau chief for The New York Times.
Background reading:
- Israel’s strikes on Lebanon are some of the deadliest in decades. Here is what we know about the bombardment.
- As Lebanon reels from Israeli attacks, the future is murky for a wounded Hezbollah.
For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.
How the Cost of Housing Became So Crushing
Over the past year, frustration over the cost of housing in the United States has become a centerpiece of the presidential race, a focus of government policy and an agonizing nationwide problem.
Conor Dougherty, who covers housing for The Times, explains why the origin of the housing crisis is what makes it so hard to solve.
Guest: Conor Dougherty, who covers housing for The New York Times.
Background reading:
- Why too few homes get built in the United States.
- A decade ago, Kalamazoo — and all of Michigan — had too many houses. Now it has a shortage.
For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.
How Telegram Became the Underworld’s Favorite App
A Times investigation has found that Telegram, one of the world’s biggest messaging apps, with nearly a billion users, is also a giant black market and gathering place for the likes of terrorists and white supremacists.
Adam Satariano, a technology reporter for The Times, discusses the story of Telegram and the arrest of its founder, Pavel Durov.
Guest: Adam Satariano, a technology correspondent for The New York Times.
Background reading:
- How Telegram became a playground for criminals, extremists and terrorists.
- The criminal charges against Pavel Durov raised concerns in Silicon Valley about encryption and Telegram’s approach to privacy and security.
For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.