Russia releases 82 Ukrainian troops captured on Snake Island after they pledge not to take part in any more military action against Russia

RT
Fri, 25 Feb 2022 11:47 UTC

© Genya SAVILOV / AFPZmiinyi (Snake) Island is located 48km (30 miles) south of Ukraine's mainland in the Black Sea. Ukrainian soldiers pronounced by their president as killed while defending an island were actually taken prisoner, Russia claims

The Russian military has taken prisoner 82 Ukrainian troops who were deployed on Snake Island in the Black Sea, the Russian defense ministry claimed on Friday. They "laid down arms" and will be set free after pledging not to take part in military action against Russia, ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said.

The claim contradicted statements by Ukrainian officials. Border guards on Thursday confirmed that Russia was attacking the island and reported losing contact with troops deployed there overnight.

Anton Gerashchenko, an adviser to the Ukrainian interior ministry, claimed on Thursday that Russian troops killed 13 Ukrainian soldiers after they refused to surrender. Footage accessible on social media shows what appears to be a Russian warship blasting through loudspeakers a demand to lay down arms to Ukrainian soldiers on the island. The message was promising them safety and freedom if they comply.

President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday pronounced all the border guards dead. The troops "died heroically" while defending Snake Island, the Ukrainian leader said in an address to the nation. He vowed to posthumously award them highest Ukrainian military merits.

Snake Island, or Zmiini Island, is a small cross-shaped mass of land measuring just over 600 meters across. It is located some 35 kilometers off the coast of Ukraine's Odessa region, close to the border with Romania. Ukrainian border guards maintained a small outpost there.

Russia launched a military attack against Ukraine on Thursday. President Vladimir Putin claimed that Russia needed to demilitarize the country to put an end to NATO's creeping expansion into its territory and to stop Ukrainian attacks on the breakaway regions of Donetsk and Lugansk. Western nations condemned the move and imposed sanctions against Russia's financial sector and imports.

Comment: Clemency Julius Caesar-style, and not a bad PR move either (even if few in the propagandized West ever hear about it). It also reveals just how confident Russia is in its abilities and mission, and how little of a threat these brainwashed soldiers pose: Behind the Headlines: Julius Caesar - Evil Dictator or Messiah for Humanity?

Reader Comments

nuggatron · 2022-02-26T00:05:07Z

The corrupt anti-human agenda must end. The West is controlled by Red Shield.

ChrisSoftware · 2022-02-26T01:42:49Z

nuggatron yep, red shield nazi types are running everything. the lust for blood at its highest in at least 80 years.

power structures completely corrupted at a global level beyond what has been held in the past.

historical times what is next.

codis · 2022-02-26T10:55:37Z

Comment: Clemency Julius Caesar-style, and not a bad PR move either (even if few in the propagandized West ever hear about it).

If Putin really included 10.000 to 12.000 Tchetchen mercenaries in his troups, we (the Ukrainians) will see atrocities mirroring those last seen in the end stages of WWII. And not a peep about it either propaganda channel.

zman · 2022-02-26T15:48:22Z

codis The Chechen SF are for close combat in urban setting, as they are very good at it. They are also actual Russian forces, as Chechnya is in Russia, they are not mercenaries. The west does not want to publicize this as they know that the Azov and Aiden groups (who the Chechens are to rout) are basically cowards hiding among the population and likely have western SF embedded with them. The last thing they want is for them to flee, not that would do them any good. Russia plans to collect them all and prosecute them for the crimes they've committed...if they live that long. Ukr would prefer they all die, along with their secrets. The actuality of atrocities is yet to happen, yet are already being claimed? This sounds very much like the CW claims against Syria...never happened, yet continue to be claimed as fact. Regardless, whatever happens to them will likely be too good.

codis · 2022-02-26T15:58:54Z

zman

They are also actual Russian forces, as Chechnya is in Russia, they are not mercenaries

They were also in the Red Army back then. The reality of war on the ground is always dirtier than the TV clips.

The west does not want to publicize this as they know that the Azov and Aiden groups (who the Chechens are to rout) are basically cowards hiding among the population and likely have western SF embedded with them

The telling fact about those Azov militias is about their leaders (Avakov, Kolomoisky), who are - just by coincidence - having a second passport of a small Middle Eastern country.

Regardless of my position in the matter, I had a good laugh at the title.

HeadingOutside

Russia must at the very least also take the Black Sea coast and Odessa and organise referendums, as well as the other oblasts shown in red. Then...

Jamso

That depends on the definition of "democracy", as the BB is alluding to. With best regards from G. Orwell ...

codis

Actually I see no reason, why Russia shouldn't simply seize and incorporate that „Trans-Dnieper region” (marked with white). It would be logical...

Zbigniew

Best result, Russia has no other choice then to take the Ukraine back lock stock and barrel, if they do not do that they will have a dagger at...

T42

Puppet Masters

Russia releases 82 Ukrainian troops captured on Snake Island after they pledge not to take part in any more military action against Russia

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