ZAPORIZHZHIA OBLAST, UKRAINE, Dec 19 — Russian serviceman signed a contract only in November 2023 and was a member of the 70th Motorized Rifle Unit.

Soldiers of the 3rd Spartan Operational Brigade in the Zaporizhzhia sector captured a Russian serviceman after an unsuccessful attempt to assault Ukrainian positions. This was reported by the military unit 3017 of the National Guard of Ukraine.

“The Russian serviceman signed a contract only in November 2023 and served as part of the 70th motorised rifle regiment. According to the POW, there were many problems in the occupiers’ unit, the main ones being poor logistics and lack of weapons. There were no machine guns on the positions, and the assault rifles were given only two magazines of ammunition and a few grenades,” the statement said.

According to the POW, the command promised that they would hold the defence for only two days and then be replaced, but the Russian military stayed in position for more than 20 days, resulting in frostbite to the legs. During another unsuccessful attempt to storm the positions of the Ukrainian Defence Forces, the occupier surrendered to the Spartan Brigade.

Ukraine has already brought back 2,598 people as of November 22, 2023, according to Dmytro Lubinets, the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights. Since March 11, 2022, a total of 48 exchanges have taken place.

The last exchange occurred on August 7, 2023, when 22 soldiers returned from captivity. These are soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, including two officers and sergeants. They took part in battles in different areas, and some of them were wounded. The oldest was 54 years old; the youngest was 23 years old.

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