Ukraine Reports Largest Surrender by Russian Troops of the War
www.bloomberg.com
Ukrainian forces said they accepted the surrender of the largest single group of Russian soldiers since the start of the war more than two years ago, as Kyiv’s military claimed to continue expanding its cross-border incursion.
  • Ukrainian Security Service captured 102 soldiers on Wednesday
  • Russia contacted Ukraine about a prisoner swap, ombudsman says
  • gearheart@lemm.eeEnglish
    34·
    3 months ago

    Just thinking out loud…

    As a surrendered Russian soldier…

    Would you want to be returned to your home country? Would you be safe from your military political leaders?

    • skillissuer@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
      16·
      3 months ago

      there’s an option to join free russia battalion, probably, they don’t take everyone. that’s an unit within ukrainian army. service guarantees citizenship, maybe, or something

    • NeuronautML@lemmy.mlEnglish
      2·
      3 months ago

      I mean, going by the Soviet-Russian land warfare doctrine, I’m guessing they weren’t safe at any point after the enlistment process. Going by what their leaders are investing in and how they are engaging the world stage, I’m guessing they weren’t safe before that either.

      It’s not fun being Russian, i suppose.

  • Valmond@lemmy.worldEnglish
    34·
    3 months ago

    Keep them a couple of months, riling up “important” people in St Petersbourg & Moscow… No wonder Putin wants to swap asap!

  • lettruthout@lemmy.worldEnglish
    14·
    3 months ago

    So there will be a prisoner swap later… In Russia, what kind of reception might a soldier get once it’s learned that they surrendered? At best they’ll immediately be sent back to the front?

  • Ordo_Bellatores@lemmy.worldEnglish
    12·
    3 months ago

    I am curious how these soldiers differ from the ones being used in offensive operations. I suspect they would be border guard units or reservists.

    Haven’t found any images of unit insignias or any ID from this latest batch, curious to know what units are involved

    Interesting situation overall

    • itslilithEnglish
      6·
      3 months ago

      Young conscripts from western Russia usually, the type with parents in Moscow that Putin actually cares about

      • margaritox@lemmy.worldEnglish
        1·
        3 months ago

        You’re absolutely right. That’s why they’re surrendering en masse. Because they had no intentions of being involved in any war.

  • phoneymouse@lemmy.worldEnglish
    4·
    3 months ago

    Ukraine should hold a fake trial and convict them all, then sentence them to death like the Russians do. This will ratchet up the pressure and make Russia give more concessions.

    • FinishingDutch@lemmy.worldEnglish
      14·
      3 months ago

      While that’s what I feel in my heart too - every dead invader is a joyful event - you generally don’t want to do that.

      You WANT opposition troops to surrender. In fact, you want to make that the most preferred option for them. If Russian troops would know that surrender only results in death, they basically HAVE to keep fighting. Which is what you don’t want.

      That’s also why Russian soldiers were told that ‘Ukrainians are nazi’s who will kill you if you surrender’: it’s a lie to make surrender unattractive.

      As much as it pains me to say this, it really is the best option to keep them alive.