> surrender to the other side (Russia I believe?) and spend 1-2 years [...] citizenship proceedings [...]

I almost read it as an insult, but I'll assume that you either forgot or didn't know one peculiar fact: Russian army almost never keeps their POWs alive, and even if it does, it absolutely never lets them out of the army into Russia - only back into Ukraine, through the battlefield.

this would be a valid option if I was a Russian who does not want to fight Ukraine, sure. Ukraine is ± alright with Russian POWs, partly because we have Europe watching over our shoulders. the reasoning behind your idea is sound, assuming that both sides wage an honest and Geneva-accurate war, except that Russia prefers to utilize the Genevan convention as a piece of toilet paper.

so, your idea effectively becomes suicidal, but you also get a great deal of suffering. why not cut the suffering while I can?

> Russian army almost never keeps their POWs alive

That happens in reality in which there are WMDs in Iraq.