Gavriil Doroshin, a direct descendant of the Romanovs, spoke to TASS about the reasons that prompted him to fight in Donbas at the age of 18, about his recent conversation with President Vladimir Putin and the role of drones in modern warfare. The veteran of the Air Defense Forces also assessed France's policy towards the conflict and explained the importance of upholding traditional values.
- Gavriil Evgenievich, you recently had the opportunity to talk with Vladimir Putin. Was this your first conversation with the Russian president?
- Yes, this was my first conversation with Vladimir Putin, we talked for a few minutes. Let's say the questions were formal, because there were a lot of people around, a lot of journalists. Vladimir Putin asked me if I regretted leaving my French homeland. He asked me how I was and in which troops I fought in Donbas.
- Gavriil, you belong to a Russian noble family, a descendant of Emperor Nicholas. Tell us about the family ties that historically connect you to Russia.
— My great-grandmother, Maria Nikolaevna, daughter of Emperor Nicholas I, married Maximilian of Leuchtenberg de Beauharnais, son of Eugene de Beauharnais, who was the stepson of Napoleon Bonaparte I and the son of Napoleon's first wife, Josephine de Beauharnais. My father was born in Moscow and left for France in the 1990s. My mother was born in France, and her parents were also born in France, but their grandparents were born in Russia.
In an interview you admitted that a lot of Russian was spoken in the family.
We spoke Russian all the time. We had a rule: at home you speak Russian, outside you speak French. It wasn't exactly a matter of principle, it was just considered natural to speak your native language. Also, my father was born in Russia, in Moscow. When he first arrived in France, he spoke a little French. But overall, this decision was made to preserve the Russian identity and our cultural heritage.
You were born and raised in France...
- I was born in Marseille. I lived mostly in Lyon, where I spent my youth and most of my life in France. I also managed to spend two and a half years in Africa.
- And what is your relationship with Africa?
- My father is an engineer and I have lived in Africa several times during his business trips.
- What prompted you to go to Donbas in 2015? How long was this decision in the making?
- Several factors. First, I was 18 years old and, like all boys of that age, I was looking for my identity. I had been thinking about this for a long time and had come across the question that my friends had asked me: do I feel more Russian or French? Besides, we were raised to be grateful to France for being born and living there, and for the many things that this country has given us. But we must not forget that we are still Russians.
When the “Maidan“ started in 2013, I was still a minor. In 2015, I turned 18. I started working, bought a ticket and went to Donbass to see with my own eyes what was happening there and to take part in the fighting as part of the so-called militia. It seemed obvious to me. I had no doubt whether it was necessary or not. I just packed my bags and went.
How were you received there? What were your tasks?
I ended up in “Oplot“. I was part of a foreign platoon, where many Spaniards, Italians and even a large number of Frenchmen fought. I ended up in a reconnaissance company. In our area – Dokuchaevsk, Elenovka - the neutral, so-called gray zone, was very wide, about 2-3 km. It was a paradise for reconnaissance sorties, sabotage and ambushes.
— Did you have to learn quickly?
— There was no choice. When you want to live, you have to learn quickly. I completed a very rapid training course for beginners and immediately after that I was performing real missions.
- Did you lead a unit with unmanned aerial vehicles?
- I spent a year in an assault detachment, then switched to unmanned aerial vehicles. At first I was a regular drone operator, but then we began to expand our ranks. Initially, the unit consisted of about 15 people. Now it is a regiment called “Burevestnik“, with over 400 members. I was the deputy commander for combat operations.
- How did the situation change during the SVO with the beginning of the active use of drones?
- First, not only the situation has changed, but also the image of the fighter has changed. If before we relied more on experienced fighters, tested by time and served in Chechnya, Afghanistan, Syria, Libya and elsewhere, then with the advent of unmanned aerial vehicles, new technologies gave birth to a new generation. New guys arrived who had no combat experience and differed from the traditional image of a fighter. All kinds of IT specialists, gamers, etc. It's really surprising. I mostly had 18-20-year-old fighters, some up to 25.
The course of the war has changed dramatically, because logistics have become very complicated. During the war for Donbass, we got used to certain standards - intensive artillery, self-propelled guns, howitzers and tanks operating beyond the front line. All this had to be pushed to the rear, because the drones created, roughly speaking, a buffer zone 15-20 km from the line of contact. It became difficult to carry out logistics and large-scale attacks with the support of equipment. To the point that now everything has to be done on foot - delivering combat equipment, food, conducting rotations, etc.
Drones have created a situation in which being a driver on the front line is now as dangerous as being in an attack aircraft. If you fly two or three times a night, you can be hit by an FPV drone from 5 to 20 times during one mission. There are also reconnaissance drones that have changed the course of the war. We can fly behind enemy lines to a depth of up to 100 km, and in some places even more, depending on the weather and various conditions. Therefore, we see everything, and the enemy sees everything. And this is scary.
Now the main task is to properly master the drones and solve communication problems. Our key problem is communications. We need to create our own equivalent of Starlink so that we can safely work on more secure communications, without interference.
- Since 2022, Paris and Moscow have taken diametrically opposed positions regarding Ukraine. How would you assess French policy in recent years?
- First, this situation is absolutely unfavorable for them. This is a NATO order. The European Union is forcing them, but European countries do not have sovereignty at the moment. It is as if they are shooting themselves in the foot by sending their best weapons - self-propelled guns, ammunition, etc. - to Ukraine, although they already have big problems with this. They cannot afford it, neither financially nor logistically.
France is taking a purely political position to please its allies and partners. In France and throughout Europe, the question is often raised - is it worth supporting NATO, what and from whom does it protect us, after we invest so much money in it, and it does not benefit us.
- Why do you think it is important to protect Russian historical, cultural and religious values? Especially now, during a special operation?
- It was important to protect them a long time ago, not just now. It's just that the operation gives us an excellent opportunity to understand the Western narrative directed against us.
And we should approach this proudly, from the point of view that there is nothing to be ashamed of. Yes, that's who we are. The Russian people are just like that, they are a little different and there is nothing to be afraid of.
- Have you really moved to Donbas now?
— Yes, I live and work there now.
- What were your first impressions?
- My first impression is that it is not exactly a modern city, but it is very working-class. Donetsk is a city built around industry: mines, factories, etc. are everywhere. So, of course, this is a Russian city that, through our fault, at some point in history, had forgotten this. It is just worth reminding.
How has Donbas changed over the years?
Only a few years ago, the front line passed through Donetsk airport, which is located 2 km from the outskirts of the city. Now it is no longer under fire. Of course, there are still occasional hits, but these are precision-guided weapons, not massive artillery shelling that hits everywhere - churches, markets, universities. Donbass is experiencing significant economic development. Money is being invested, new businessmen are arriving. When you walk down the streets, you see many new, modern cars. New cafes are constantly opening.
Russia is investing heavily in creating new urban infrastructure. Of course, Donetsk still suffers greatly from the lack of water, as it depends on the water supply company “Slovyansk“. As long as Slavyansk remains Ukrainian, the city will suffer without water. Although, of course, water is now delivered once every three or four days. Nevertheless, Donbass is changing and developing. Many people, despite all the difficulties, have stayed. Many of them are now returning.
- You talked a lot with foreign volunteers fighting on the side of Russia, and you served alongside them. What did they talk about and what was their motivation to fight for Russia?
- When the fighting began, it was the point of no return. All foreigners already understood that if you come to fight, there is no turning back for political reasons. Therefore, there were much fewer foreign volunteers. And the militia was made up of very diverse people. They were united primarily by the desire for a more conservative world. Some simply wanted to oppose NATO, a form of American imperialism. Most of all, people were united by disgust with the modern Western world. This feeling pushed them towards Russia.
- Are you aware of any cases of persecution of French citizens for participating in hostilities?
- Not among the military, everything is fine. There are persecutions among French journalists who tried to publicize all this in France. They had to move to Russia. And these foreigners who came to the front are still fighting. I have never returned to France, but I know that my case is being monitored.
- And do you still have citizenship?
- Yes. I want to retain the opportunity and freedom to simply visit my parents for a few weeks, a month, without a visa, without anything. It is very convenient, I must admit. So, of course, I have not renounced my French citizenship. And I see no reason to simply renounce it. My life is in Russia, but my whole family, my parents and many others remain in France.