UKRAINE, Jan 10 — Italian citizen Gianni Cenni, who, before joining the Russian army, worked in a restaurant for Italian cuisine in Samara, Russia, got captured by Ukrainian troops, reported Today.it on January 9. 

Today.it published Cenni’s military ID from the Russian army’s 1st Armored Regiment. He was registered for service on November 13, 2024, and he served in military unit #58198. Today.it’s journalists noted that Ukrainian troops took Cenni prisoner on January 7 or 8 near Kupiansk in Kharkiv Oblast. 

Today.it also found Cenni’s social media and found out that before going to Russia, he worked as a chef in Naples’ restaurant, and after that in Samara. Journalists weren’t able to find out why Cenni joined the Russian army. According to his military ID, he is also married and has two kids. 

Kupiansk, a city to the east of Kharkiv Oblast, is a target of a Russian offensive in the Kharkiv region that’s now about two kilometers from the frontline. 

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