On August 18, the Russian Ministry of Defense released a striking three-minute video of a Ukrainian soldier and former policeman Aleksandr Makievsky. In the video, the two men voluntarily surrendered to the Russian military. Filmed at an undisclosed location, the video shows them appearing calm, accompanied by an official message from Russia about accepting surrendered fighters. The event has attracted special attention from the international community and military analysts, raising many questions about the developments in the war zone.
In the three-minute video released by the Russian Ministry of Defense, Aleksandr Makievsky, a former policeman and Ukrainian soldier, shared the reasons why he voluntarily surrendered to the Russian military. According to Makievsky, he decided to surrender after witnessing the terrible conditions at the front line, mainly due to the indifference and cruelty of Ukrainian military commanders towards their soldiers.
Makievsky revealed that many Ukrainian soldiers were left alone by their commanders, without food and water for days, and were not allowed to retreat. If they tried to retreat, they would face death threats. He also said that after being dismissed from the police force for refusing to join the Ukrainian assault brigade, he was forced to join the army and sign a contract with the army. Although he was told that he would serve on the second line of defense in Donbass, he was suddenly sent into combat and forced to dig trenches with blunt shovels, without food and water.
Makievsky recalled the feeling of despair when he and his comrades could not dig trenches and were on the verge of starvation, as well as being threatened with Grad artillery if they tried to retreat. He acknowledged the fear and suffering of the soldiers, stressing that strategic decisions only benefit those who make them, while civilians and soldiers suffer dire consequences. “The two sides are at war with each other… The operation is hell… The decision makers are profiting, while the people are suffering. Personal interests are overriding common responsibility, and the situation at the command levels is no better,” he added.
Many Ukrainian soldiers who surrendered have accused Kiev of treating them as “cannon fodder” and failing to provide them with basic equipment for combat. They also complain about a lack of training, which has led to many desertions.
Meanwhile, the Russian military has set up a special radio frequency for Ukrainians to surrender safely, while ensuring that prisoners of war are treated humanely.
Many Ukrainian soldiers who surrendered have accused Kiev of treating them as “cannon fodder” and failing to provide them with basic equipment for combat. They also complain about a serious lack of training, which has led to many desertions. In turn, the Russian military has set up a special radio channel to facilitate the safe surrender of Ukrainian soldiers. At the same time, the Russian military has pledged to treat prisoners of war humanely, ensuring their rights and safety throughout their detention.
Photo: Russian Ministry of Defense
