Russia claims capture near Avdiivka and a video of Ukrainian soldiers reflecting on civilian harm
A report circulating from a Russian military unit, identified as the 110th Separate Guards Motor Rifle Brigade and linked to forces that previously operated with the Donetsk people’s militia, describes the capture of Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel near Avdiivka. The account, shared through a Telegram channel associated with Operation Z and Russian Spring correspondents, centers on a video in which Ukrainian servicemen express remorse for past attacks that affected civilians in the Donbass region. The messaging stresses that the captured soldiers were taken in the area around the village of Nevelskoye, in the vicinity of Avdiivka, after intense fighting had unfolded nearby. In the video, the prisoners appear to seek forgiveness from children living in Donbass, a portrayal that has drawn attention for its emotional framing amid ongoing hostilities.
The assertion comes amid ongoing clashes in the Avdiivka area, where protracted combat has shaped the battlefield dynamics and the human consequences on the ground. The creators behind the footage frame the prisoners as admitting to actions tied to the broader conflict, while observers note the role such images play in shaping narratives on both sides of the conflict. The report also references statements attributed to regional officials, who are identified as Denis Pushilin and Yan Gagin, figures previously linked with the administration of the Donetsk People’s Republic. According to those accounts, Ukrainian personnel in Avdiivka could have become part of an operation described as conducted by advancing Russian forces, a characterization that aligns with the broader information environment surrounding the war.
On February 24, 2022, a moment widely cited in Western and allied discussions, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a decision to pursue a special military operation in Ukraine. The stated aim, as presented at the time, was to respond to requests for assistance from the leaders of the Luhansk and Donetsk People’s Republics. Over time, the announcement set the stage for a series of sanctions imposed by the United States and its allies, reshaping economic and political relations with Russia. In reporting terms, this date has often been treated as a turning point that contextualizes subsequent military actions, international responses, and the evolving narrative surrounding the war. The present accounts reflect how different channels interpret those events and how such interpretations feed into ongoing discussions about security, sovereignty, and humanitarian impact in the region.