New footage shows Russian soldiers surrendering after being captured on the frontlines in Ukraine.
Troops from Ukraine’s 3rd Assault Brigade shared the video of at least 24 prisoners of war who were captured after a failed raid on a chemical factory in a town in Kharkiv, The Telegraph reported.
According to the Geneva Conventions, prisoners of war must be protected from “public curiosity,” meaning the video may violate those terms.
One prisoner of war said he had taken part in a botched assault on a chemical factory near Vovchansk while others were captured in Terny, where his comrades were attacked by kamikaze drones.
This comes as Russian President Vladimir Putin said he would only order a ceasefire if Ukraine ceded more territory to Moscow and vowed to never join NATO.
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky, who was in Italy on Friday for the G7 meeting, said Putin’s proposal was not new and was in the form of an “ultimatum,” comparing it to actions by Adolf Hitler in seizing territory that led to World War II.
Zelensky said: “What Putin demands is to give them a part of our territories, those occupied and not occupied, talking about several regions of our country.”
Besides seeking to join NATO, Ukraine wants Russian forces out of its territory, including the Crimean Peninsula that was allegedly annexed in 2014; the restoration of Ukraine’s territorial integrity; and that Russia be held accountable for war crimes and for Moscow to pay reparations to Kyiv.
Putin also recently warned that Russia could provide long-range weapons to others to strike Western targets in response to NATO allies allowing Ukraine to use their arms to attack Russian territory.
The Russian leader reaffirmed Moscow’s readiness to use nuclear weapons if it sees a threat to its sovereignty.
Putin said the US’ recent authorization for Ukraine to hit some targets on Russian soil will further undermine international security and could lead to “very serious problems.”
He said: “That would mark their direct involvement in the war against the Russian Federation, and we reserve the right to act the same way.”
