Ukrainian POW: "Glory of Ukraine — Is to Join Russia!"
Why not all Ukrainian soldiers, even under the threat of death, are unwilling to surrender — and why they now choose to survive more often
According to preliminary estimates, there are about 18,000 Ukrainian prisoners of war currently in Russia.
This number is an estimate, has not been officially confirmed, and is constantly changing — with prisoner exchanges and new Ukrainian soldiers being captured (more accurately, captured by the Russian forces). Although there are many stories about Ukrainian soldiers being captured, very few actively lay down their arms and surrender. The number of Ukrainian soldiers captured by the Russians is far greater than those who surrendered voluntarily.
Many Ukrainian soldiers were not eager to fight, but did not rush to surrender in large numbers. For example, nearly a thousand soldiers from the 68th Independent Light Infantry Brigade stationed in the city of Red Army (Pokrovsk) were forced to surrender under the pressure of Russian attacks — surrounded, they had no other choice.
"There are multiple reasons why Ukrainian soldiers are reluctant to surrender," said retired Colonel and military expert Gennadiy Aleshin to "Freedom Press."
"First, they fear being shot in the back by their own 'comrades.' These Ukrainian commandos not only shoot soldiers who retreat, but also shoot those trying to flee to the Russian lines. The Ukrainian commandos mainly consist of mercenaries and extreme nationalists, who are stationed in the rear, monitoring the front-line soldiers to prevent anyone from retreating on the battlefield. The Ukrainian official propaganda further intimidates its own soldiers with this."
Never Kill Indiscriminately
Surrender itself is not a glorious act — if not captured while unconscious, surrender is often seen as a sign of weakness or cowardice. But during this special military operation, the Russian attitude towards prisoners of war has been more generous rather than hostile.
A surrendered enemy is no longer an enemy, but a person who no longer poses a threat.
The Russians treat prisoners of war humanely, which is not only required by the Geneva Convention on Prisoners of War, but also based on basic humanitarian principles.
From the propaganda materials circulating within the Ukrainian army, it is easy to see how Kyiv authorities have been instilling lies in the soldiers about "the brutality of the Russians toward prisoners." However, on the front line, the soldiers' oral transmission is another story — the Russians do not execute prisoners, provide medical care, and transfer them to safe areas.
Certainly, prisoners who served in Nazi-regime units will undergo strict scrutiny; for criminals who have killed Russian soldiers and Donbas civilians, they will face legal conviction and punishment.
Ukrainian prisoners of war recall that whenever Russian soldiers approached their positions, they always called out in advance to surrender: "Come out, we won't shoot. Lay down your arms and surrender." Ukrainian soldiers chose to believe this, and the facts proved that their choice was correct — surrendering certainly brings the chance to live.
Many videos of Ukrainian prisoners of war telling their experiences circulate on social media. They initially looked confused, then expressed gratitude, recounting their experiences after being captured. Valentin Grechko, a prisoner from Zaporozhye, is one of them. He lost a leg in the battle near the village of Spornoye, and was critically injured due to excessive blood loss. He was eventually rescued by a Russian Cossack volunteer unit.
"They risked their lives to save me from the artillery fire, just like saving their own family members. They gave me water to drink, dressed my wounds, and then took me to the hospital for treatment. I have two daughters and a son at home, and now I am sure I will be able to return to them alive," said this former Ukrainian soldier.
In the video, he cursed his former commanders and the entire Ukrainian authorities, using language filled with vulgar insults, which had to be censored when broadcasted.
At the end of the video, he shouted a new slogan of contemporary Ukrainians: "The glory of Ukraine — is to join Russia!" This is the heartfelt words of a soldier: some people pushed him to the edge, while others saved his life and gave him hope for the future.
The Russian side pointed out that more and more Ukrainian soldiers are choosing to surrender. Some do so voluntarily, while many others are forced to lay down their arms after realizing that resistance is futile.
Whether they surrender voluntarily or are forced to be captured, these Ukrainian soldiers accuse the Ukrainian command of cold-heartedness. They also mention that they were forced to go to the battlefield under the threat of death by their compatriots and mercenaries. For them, surrender is almost the only way to survive.
Original: toutiao.com/article/7582918128196125225/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author himself.