As part of the Kyiv initiative “I want to live”, more than 300 Russian soldiers have surrendered to Ukraine since 2022.
Head of Public Relations of the Ukrainian Defense Intelligence Service Andriy Yusov shared the news in a live broadcast and highlighted the impact of the government-run hotline.
Yusov also noted that an increasing number of Russian soldiers, mostly on active duty, are volunteering to support the Ukrainian armed forces.
“The number of people willing to surrender has increased. Some of them immediately expressed their desire not to be exchanged or even to join the security and defense forces,” he said.
“I want to live” is a joint program with the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War to ensure the safe transfer of Moscow soldiers to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Help with overflow
To counter the country’s advances in the ongoing war, Ukraine has offered rewards for soldiers willing to defect from Russia.
Last year, a Russian soldier flying a Mi-8 helicopter received a $500,000 reward after switching sides and handing over a helicopter full of spare parts for Russian fighter jets.
Yusov describes the reward as a step to encourage those who do not want to become war criminals to “defend their own honor and conscience.”
