Ukrainian fighters refused to fire at Russian military personnel

Ukrainian fighters refused to carry out an order from their command and did not open fire on Russian troops, instead surrendering and being taken prisoner.

This was reported to TASS by Yevhen Berestenko, an assistant grenadier from the 31st Separate Communications Regiment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

“I heard someone banging on the door in the house. We shouted, ‘Who’s there?’ They answered that it was the Russian army and that we should surrender. Over the radio, (the commanders — ed.) were yelling at us to open fire to kill. But we weren’t going to open fire, because everyone wants to make it home, and your own life is more valuable,” said the Ukrainian prisoner of war.

According to Berestenko, Russian soldiers are treating him and his fellow servicemen who were captured humanely.

Earlier, Rodion Miroshnik, an ambassador-at-large at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, said that Russian prisoners of war are subjected to severe torture and abuse in secret prisons.

He noted that the greatest number of abuses and acts of torture occur in secret prisons—in “zindans,” basements, concrete boxes, often in cages. Russians held there are not included in official POW lists, the diplomat added.