THIS is the shocking moment a Russian soldier surrendered to Ukrainian forces after pleading for his life with a message scribbled on cardboard.
The 16th Army Corps said drone pilots operating near Lyman – a city in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region – spotted the soldier signalling his desire to surrender.
Drone footage shows a small building with cardboard signs displayed in a window.
One message read: “Please take me prisoner, I want to live.”
It is understood the soldier had been instructed by his superiors to give himself up.
Moments later, another sign appeared in the window, again asking for his life to be spared.
A Ukrainian drone operator then responded, giving the soldier clear instructions on how to surrender safely.
Two Ukrainian troops later approached the building and escorted the Russian soldier into custody.
Confirming the surrender was successful, the 16th Army Corps said the operation was carried out with support from the “Shkval” special unit of the 57th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade.
This is not the first time drones have played a role in Russian surrenders.
Ukrainian forces have reported cases in which Russian troops were persuaded to lay down their arms after drones broadcast voice messages.
In 2022, Ukraine released an instructional video providing Russian soldiers with a step-by-step guide on how to surrender to a Ukrainian drone.
Drones are now being used more extensively in the war than in any previous conflict.
Both sides heavily rely on them for reconnaissance and combat operations.
Ukraine has also been actively encouraging Russian soldiers to surrender peacefully through initiatives such as its “I Want to Live” hotline.
Kyiv claims it has already been used by thousands of troops.
This latest incident comes days after Moscow accused Ukraine of firing towards Putin’s home in Russia.
Western countries disputed Russia‘s account of the alleged strike, with Ukrainian officials describing the evidence as “laughable”.
Russia has since claimed it has handed data over to the US which proves the attack.
A video posted on the Russian Defence Ministry’s Telegram channel shows the head of the Main Directorate of the General Staff of Russia’s Armed Forces handing a device to the US attaché.
He described it as the controlling mechanism of a drone found among downed fragments.
Kostyukov said Russia’s “decryption” of the data found in the device “confirms without question” that Putin’s palace was the target of the strike.
He added: “We presume that this measure will do away with any questions and allow for the truth to be established.”
However, Russian officials failed to explain how it knew the swarm of drones were on a direct course for its dictators palace.
What’s more, Putin’s palace is surrounded by more than 20 modern air defence systems which all remained silent.
