00:00When did you decide to come to Russia, participate in the SMO?
00:05You served there.
00:07I mean, tell us all we need to know in general terms about what motivated you to make these decisions and what your experience was.
00:18I made a decision to join the Russian army because, first of all, my wife is Russian.
00:24She is from Lugansk.
00:25Yes, we lived in Moscow for some time, but her relatives have always lived in Lugansk.
00:31They have lived there all their lives.
00:34Now it is a war zone, and you come home and sit on the couch next to your wife.
00:39You know, when you're home after work, and she starts telling you that her parents called and said that their house got hit by a bomb.
00:46Her parents' house.
00:47It happened once, then again, and again.
00:51You immediately feel useless in a family.
00:53I got to the point where I couldn't sleep at night because I wanted to make a contribution to help these people somehow.
01:00Everything I've ever done, I've never done it for money or privileges.
01:03I went to war because of ideology.
01:07I think people like me also chose this path for ideological reasons.
01:11I'm not saying they're one step ahead, but I think they're better motivated.
01:15They have a reason why they're exactly where they are.
01:18I guess that's what motivated me the most.
01:21My in-laws were there, even though I'd never been there myself.
01:26I hadn't visited Lugansk before I volunteered to join the army.
01:29In the end, I felt like I had no choice, really.
01:32I felt useless.
01:34I kept thinking, why am I still here?
01:37What am I doing?
01:38Lying on the couch, in my bed while members of my family are in danger at this time.
01:42That's what motivated me to make that decision.
01:46Well, obviously, joining the military and participating in a conflict, especially the Ukraine conflict, that's, of course, everybody knows is quite a bloody conflict.
01:56It's a serious decision for someone to make.
01:59How did your wife react to this decision and your relatives that are still in Italy?
02:03Well, my wife, as well as all other relatives, did everything to stop me.
02:11I think that despite the fact that they support my values, my ideology, I still think any person who holds you dear and whom you hold dear will do everything possible to stop you and influence your right to make that choice.
02:24Because everyone knows it's a hard situation and it is dangerous there.
02:30So I forced my loved ones, even though they tried to stop me, to accept that the choice I made involves certain risks.
02:36Of course, they tried to stop me, but they failed because I could no longer sleep at night.
02:41I couldn't find any excuse in support of why I was still staying home and doing nothing.
02:46Why not help others on the battlefield if they are fighting for the same ideals that I share until now?
02:51And do you have any plans going forward after this?
02:58I'll try to relax and spend as much time as I can with my family, my loved ones.
03:06In Russia?
03:09Yes, in Russia.
03:11In part, because I cannot return to Italy, as I would be imprisoned immediately.
03:16As of now, Italy considers me a terrorist, a Russian terrorist, so going back is not an option.
03:24I should point out that Italy applies a lot of double standards when it comes to foreign fighters involved in the conflict in Russia.
03:30It's already clear, those who fight for Kiev can go home to Italy, while Italians who have fought on the side of Russia cannot, as they will go straight to prison.
03:38I believe these are double standards, shameful standards, coming from my own country.
03:44I'm not asking for leniency.
03:46I'm here, and I came here for ideological reasons.
03:50I'm not afraid of taking responsibility, but at the same time, I believe responsibility should be shared.
03:56That's still a very sensitive matter.
03:58Still, I hope that over time, these discrepancies will be addressed and resolved.
04:02Well, you mentioned some of these foreign fighters, of course, that go to the Ukrainian side.
04:10What do you think motivates these people, a lot of them being mercenaries, of course, from Europe that go to help the Kiev regime,
04:18but mercenaries or volunteers, what do you think motivates them to go do that?
04:22I believe that, like me, they are motivated by ideological convictions.
04:30At least those I've listened to on YouTube or Telegram speak about democracy, about defending its noble values.
04:37And yet, in reality, the countries that proclaim themselves defenders of democracy have never done anything to help me personally.
04:44I've always noticed, especially through these very same double standards that govern the treatment of foreign fighters,
04:50aspects that have nothing to do with democracy.
04:53If I can't go back home to Italy, but he can because he fought for Kiev and is therefore hailed as a hero,
05:00while I am branded a terrorist, that's not democracy.
05:03So the great values they claim to be fighting for, perhaps they haven't realized it, but they are losing them.
05:09And it's not just about me, though it affects me directly.
05:13There's much that could be said about democracy.
05:16But what democracy are we talking about?
05:18If democracy is their core value, then explain to me what's democratic about sending anti-personnel mines or supplying rockets and ammunition.
05:27That's not democracy.
05:29In fact, it's unconstitutional under Italian law.
05:32So I really don't understand what values they believe they are defending.
