Russian conscripts tell of mass surrender in Kursk region - The New York Times

The New York Times reported that last Friday, media representatives interviewed prisoners at a facility in the Sumy region, where 320 detainees are held.

The NYT article states that, according to the prison chief speaking on condition of anonymity, 80% of the prisoners are conscripts from Russia.

It is also noted that, after some time, the prisoners are being relocated to other areas away from the combat zones. Some of the prisoners sustained shrapnel or gunshot wounds.

The report describes how, in the prison’s cells, dozens of Russian conscripts were seen lying on beds or sitting on wooden benches in flip-flops, watching cartoons on television.

One prisoner, Vasily, who was stationed on the border and whose fort was captured on August 6, recounted how he and other soldiers ran into a birch grove and hid.

Reflecting on the Ukrainian assault in the Kursk region, he said "I never thought it would happen.”

"Russia’s border, it turned out, was defended thinly, largely by young conscripted soldiers who in interviews described surrendering or abandoning their positions. Private Vasily said he had survived by lying in the birch forest near the Russian border for three days, covered in branches and leaves, before deciding to surrender," the NYT article states.

The prisoners explained that they were stationed in platoons of about 30 people in concrete or earthen fortifications located approximately 1.5 kilometers apart along the border.

"There, they had faced a sudden, ferocious attack and quickly gave up the fight," The New York Times reports.

21-year-old prisoner Igor, drafted in December, told journalists that Ukrainian artillery intensified its strikes a few days before the invasion. Meanwhile, Russian commanders did not respond to the relevant reports.

On the day of the attack, under artillery fire, a Russian conscript tried to take cover in a fortification, but it caught fire. He described how he and others ran to the nearest forest. Of his group of 12 attempting to escape to safety, only 5 survived, according to Igor.

The prisoner also mentioned that Russian forces were unable to counter Ukrainian Bradley infantry fighting vehicles during the attack.

20-year-old Sergei from Tatarstan said that his commander led 28 soldiers from their fortification for a chaotic retreat. They took refuge in a rural house but were found by Ukrainian forces. All Russian soldiers surrendered.

Sergei added that the platoon commander shouted from a window: "There are conscripts here. We want to surrender."

Capture of Russian prisoners of war in the Kursk region

Ukrainian troops have achieved significant success since the beginning of the operation in the Kursk region on August 6, including in replenishing the exchange fund.

Recently, The Washington Post reported that during the operation in the Kursk region, Ukrainian forces managed to capture at least 250 Russian conscripts.

It has also been reported that during a special operation, the Security Service of Ukraine managed to capture over 100 Russian soldiers, including some Kadyrovites. For more details, read the RBC-Ukraine article.