>Remember that Ukraine is a small country (its population is half the size of the UK).

~40 millions before the war started, thus ~10M men fit for army. 1% of 10M = 100k

>Remember that Ukraine is one of the poorest countries in Europe.

I know it firsthand - I live in Kyiv )) In IT $3k is quite an average salary. A lot of people earn at least $1k (flat rent prices in Kyiv right now tell that 17k flats are available for renting with median price ~$300/month - which means that a lot of people can afford that, otherwise the price would go down).

So $3-5k is definitely within reach for at least 20% of the population

"willingly" involves choice between passing through multiple checkpoints with full body checks (literally looking for "suspicious tatoos") and robbery (if soldiers like something you have, they take it, end of story) to get to Ukraine vs unrestricted passage to russia

Tens of thousands are about right, in other words about 1%. Which leaves 99% ready to stay and fight. From what I've heard it takes $3-5k in bribes to leave the country, so at least 20% of people could afford that if they really wanted to

As far as I know, the absolute majority of people who fled to russia did that from occupied territories

Not in the west, but there are indeed such people in the east. Yet even there a vast majority condemned russian actions. Clearly forced deportation didn't happen often - but people on occupied territories are given a choice of going through many filtration checkpoints in order to get to free Ukraine (with very real chances to be detained for as much as pro-Ukrainian telegram.channel found in their phone), or unrestricted, no questions asked passage to russia

I agree with that number. But it's really not clear how many did so willingly - and not because they had no option to move in Europe or elsewhere so it was the only safe~ish destination available

8M people left Ukraine. Of those who did it of their own will ~5M went to Europe. It is unknown how many people willingly moved to russia - but there are many known facts of forced deportation there

That's what happens on border with Belorussia which is giving free passage for russian troops but officially hadn't joined the war. On russian border it's more tense, although in general yes, both sides keep clear from small- and medium arms range, and heavy armor is mostly not used there (with occasional exceptions)

You want to check videos from liberated Kherson in November - that would not only correct dates, but also would give some insight on why lives are spent on Ukrainian side

Yeah, russians just would do what they did to civilians in Bucha to the whole country. No, thanks :)