Key facts
- Ukrainian volunteer Mykhailo Puryshev claims Russian FSB blackmailed him.
- Puryshev alleges the FSB threatened to conscript his son into the Russian army.
- He stated he chose to travel to Russia to ensure his son's safety.
- Puryshev is known for evacuating civilians from Mariupol and continued volunteer work.
- He has four children, two living in Russia and two with him in Ukraine.
Prominent Ukrainian volunteer Mykhailo Puryshev has claimed that Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) blackmailed him into cooperation, threatening to conscript his son into the Russian army. Puryshev, who has four children, stated that two live in Russia from a previous marriage and two live with him in Ukraine.
In a social media post, Puryshev detailed the alleged threat, stating, "There are two options. The first option is that I am friends with (the FSB), they help my son, they don't touch my son, he is fine. But I am betraying my country and my children. The second option is that I don't cooperate with them, and they will simply kill my son."