Russian paratroopers captured when their commander fled (photo)

The Ukrainian Armed Forces and SBU detained ten Russian solders from the Russian Federation Armed Forces (military unit 71211, Ivanovo) in Donetsk Oblast on Monday. The soldiers surrendered when they had been surrounded.

The battalion was relocated to Rostov Oblast, Russia, on August 23, the detained said. The soldiers were alarmed on the night of August 24 and ordered to join the column of a few dozen APCs. Only the officers knew that the column was heading for Ukraine.

An artillery division, intelligence group, about 350-400 soldiers and 30 APCs were in the column, the Ukraine Ministry of Defence reports. The detained were wearing Russian uniform. The identification marks on the vehicles were painted over, liga.net reports.

The soldiers were told that they were taking part in battalion training. The group crossed the border and entered Ilovaisk. Two APCs lagged behind, one of them was destroyed. The battalion commander, senior lieutenant Mikhail Milenka, fled. His subordinates decided to head for other Russian soldiers but were surrounded and surrendered.

SBU has published the photos and names of 10 Russian paratroopers. There is additional information about seven of them in social networks.

Photo: liga.net