The Deserter: An Epic Story of Love and War

Part Five: Stalked by Shadows

Ivan arrives at his final destination. Anna trusts a stranger to help navigate their new home country.
In “The Deserter,” the journalist Sarah A. Topol reports the story of Ivan, a deserter who served as a captain in the Russian Army, fought in Ukraine and then ultimately fled the war and his country with his wife, Anna. (Ivan and Anna are pseudonyms used for their protection.)Topol spoke to 18 deserters while reporting in eight countries across four continents over the last year and a half; their experiences helped inform a vivid picture of the Russian war operation and its corruption, chaos and brutality.This audio version is in five parts and is narrated by Liev Schreiber.Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at <a href="http://nytimes.com/podcasts">nytimes.com/podcasts</a> or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

He didn't want to fight in Putin’s war—he just wanted to survive. But to make it back to his family and live in peace, he would have to run.

An audio feature from The New York Times Magazine. Narrated by Liev Schreiber.

Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.