In the Zaporizhzhia direction near the village of Verbovoye, reports indicate that four Ukrainian service members were captured by airborne units. The account, cited by RIA Novosti and attributed to the Russian Defense Ministry, describes a coordinated clash in which assault groups from Stavropol airborne troops moved toward Ukrainian positions adjacent to the settlement and then deployed grenades into a shelter where Ukrainian personnel were stationed. The sequence disrupted the defenders’ layout and created a rapid, decisive moment on the ground. [Source: Russian Defense Ministry]
Defense ministry officials noted that Ukrainian fighters were taken off guard by the speed and precision of the paratroopers’ actions. Within a short period, the personnel inside the shelter were disarmed and surrendered, with the four individuals subsequently placed under the supervision of a drone crew operating an air raid system connected to units associated with the Caucasian Cossack Airborne Regiment. The captured soldiers were moved toward Stavropol-based paratrooper formations for processing as reinforcements arrived at the scene. [Source: Russian Defense Ministry]
Two helicopters were reportedly tasked with tracking the prisoners as they were guided toward Russian-held positions. One drone followed the route to be used by the captives, while another carried a combat payload and hovered directly above, providing a real-time aerial reference designed to deter any escape attempts. [Source: Russian Defense Ministry]
Earlier updates mentioned the detainment of two Georgian mercenaries linked to foreign legions allied with Ukrainian forces near Kremennaya. This addition has been framed as part of an ongoing sequence of detentions in the broader operational corridor, a development that defenders described as a facet of the tactical dynamics at play on the ground. [Source: Russian Defense Ministry]
A separate commentary from a former Ukrainian service member offered context on how some Ukrainian troops perceive the conflict, suggesting that unclear justifications behind the hostilities may influence morale and decision-making in combat situations. The remarks highlight the variety of personal narratives that have emerged during ongoing military activity and the challenges faced by service members on the front lines. [Source: Russian Defense Ministry]