Amid the ongoing Russian offensive on almost all Ukrainian frontlines, both on the eastern Donbass frontlines and in the south, Ukrainian servicemen are more and more despaired.
As it was in the first year of Russian military operations, entire Ukrainian units began to surrender to the Russian military. For example, the commander of a platoon of the 59th Separate Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) took a decision to save lives of his servicemen. As a result, at least 18 Ukrainian servicemen surrendered.
The incident took place in the village of Georgievka in the Donetsk People’s Republic. The Russian military began the assault of the village after they took control of the large Ukrainian stronghold in Mariinka. According to the reports from the area, Russian forces have recently advanced in the eastern part of the village and took control of all the quarters around the local water reservoir. Clashes are ongoing in the center of Georgievka.
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Amid the ongoing Russian advance, the Ukrainian military command was forced to send additional units to reinforce the defense lines in the Kurakhovo area; but it turned out that these units were not ready to fight.
The commander of the platoon of the 59th Separate Brigade, who surrendered in Georgievka, explained that they were ordered to enter the village to support the defending Ukrainian units. They came under Russian artillery fire on their way to rotation. As a result, 4 servicemen were killed and 5 others were wounded before the platoon reached the village. The commander was surprised that the Ukrainian garrison in Georgievka was almost destroyed and there were almost no more forces to defend the settlement. In order to save lives of his subordinates, the commander decided not to enter the senseless battles and got in contact with the Russian military.
After two years of prolonged battles, Ukrainian servicemen understood that Russian servicemen do not torture the prisoners of war. The POWs are provided with all the necessary support in the Russian captivity.
Moreover, the commander of the platoon explained that his servicemen decided not to go back to Ukraine. They asked not to be included in the prisoner exchange lists because they would be imprisoned and thrown back onto the battlefield as soon as they returned to Ukraine.
The morale of the Ukrainian military is still low. Ukrainian servicemen are surrendering on all the frontlines. For example, on March 18, about 12 Ukrainian fighters were taken prisoners in the village of Krynki in the Kherson region. Abandoned by their comrades on the Russian eastern bank of the Dnieper, Ukrainian soldiers decided to save their lives and not to sacrifice their health for senseless defense of the small foothold in the ruined village.
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