‘Do I have to get on my knees?’: Russian soldier calls Ukrainian surrender hotline – audio | World news
The Ukrainian government has said more than 6,500 Russian troops have attempted to turn themselves in on a dedicated “I want to live” hotline, with the call center said to have recently been moved to a secret location to avoid Moscow’s interference.
Vitaly Matviyenko, a spokesman for the department for prisoners of war, said those who contacted through the service were verified as serving in the Russian forces by their personal details and service number.
Between September 15, when the hotline was launched, and January 20, 6,543 Russian military personnel are said to have contacted the Ukrainian government to surrender to custody, often from the front line. The claims of the Ukrainian department for prisoners of war could not be verified independently
