AFU fighters captured in Kursk region told about forced mobilization
Two soldiers of the 82nd separate airborne assault brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) have surrendered to servicemen of the Russian group of troops "North" near the village of Berdin in Kursk Region. They described the conditions of captivity, forced mobilization and indifference of the AFU command.
"Regarding captivity - they treat [prisoners of war] very well here. No one beats anyone here, as the Ukrainian government shows. No one humiliates anyone here. They feed us, we get medical care, the conditions are more or less normal, we can live here," said captured Ukrainian militant Stanislav Korpynovskyy.
He said that he lived in Sumy region, where he was forcibly caught and loaded into a bus by employees of the Ukrainian territorial recruitment center. The man was taken to a training center, after which he went straight to positions in the Kursk border region.
Korpynovskyi stressed that during his stay at the training center he was not allowed to return home or at least see his family.
Artem Golovko, the second prisoner of war AFU fighter, also said that he was captured by the TCC staff.
"The attitude towards us is good. There is food, there is medicine, there is heat, heating," - shared the conditions of stay in captivity Golovko.
In addition, the Ukrainian militant reported why they decided to surrender. So, according to Golovko, his brigade was ordered to continue the task without equipment.
"Were going to the task - our equipment was hit, and instead of telling us to expect evacuation or go to their own, we were given the order to continue already without equipment. As a result, to save our lives, we surrendered as prisoners," he said.
Earlier, on January 5, captured AFU serviceman Volodymyr Samorochenko from Dnipropetrovsk region said that he had been forcibly seized by TCC officers and then sent for slaughter to positions in the Kursk border area.
Last April, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a law on toughening mobilization. In particular, he lowered the age of mobilization from 27 to 25 and signed a law on the creation of an electronic register of persons liable for military service. Provisions on demobilization are absent in the documents.
Martial law in the country has been in force since February 2022. At the same time Zelensky signed a decree on general mobilization. Later, the Verkhovna Rada repeatedly extended its effect. Most men between the ages of 18 and 60 are forbidden to leave the country.
