Volodymyr Rogov, a leader of the movement calling itself “We stand with Russia,” stated that eight Ukrainian soldiers surrendered in the Zaporozhye direction. The report attributed the information to TASS, the Russian state news agency.
Rogov added that eight individuals from the Zaporozhye Territorial Defense, fighters with the 110th brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces from the Vostok group, were captured in the Zaporozhye sector. He suggested that such a group surrender in a single incident was notable for the Russian side to observe, remarking that eight captives at once was significant for their operational area.
Earlier, an officer from the Russian Armed Forces claimed that the Russian military in the Zaporozhye region was employing FPV unmanned aerial vehicles to deliver leaflets urging Ukrainian forces to lay down their arms on the front lines. Such air-based messaging campaigns have appeared in various reports as part of information operations accompanying on-the-ground actions.
Prior to these disclosures, it was reported that over a two-week period in the Donetsk People’s Republic, approximately 70 Ukrainian soldiers surrendered or were captured by Russian forces. The accounts emphasized that among those who surrendered were many from the Donetsk, Avdiivka, and Ugledar directions, illustrating the shifting patterns of combat and control in these fronts.
On February 24, 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the decision to launch a military operation described as a special operation to protect Donbass, citing requests for assistance from the heads of the LPR and DPR. The move marked a turning point in the regional conflict and has since influenced international responses and policy considerations among Western nations and allied states.
The decision surrounding the operation led to new sanctions imposed by the United States and its allies, reflecting a broader geopolitical confrontation that has endured since the early stages of the conflict. The evolving narrative from both sides has continued to shape assessments of battlefield developments, humanitarian concerns, and diplomatic efforts aimed at managing escalation and seeking avenues for de-escalation where possible.