08:41 08-04-2026

Missing Russian Soldier Reappears via Radio Signal

A Russian serviceman once listed missing reestablishes contact via a repaired radio after days wounded and alone, later returning to active duty.

A Russian serviceman taking part in the special military operation in Ukraine, known by the call sign Mekhan was officially listed as missing-until he suddenly reappeared on the airwaves using a someone else's radio. His account, dating back to the summer of 2025, was later published on the official Telegram channel of the Russian Defense Ministry.

Mekhan said he was wounded during an assault on Ukrainian positions when his unit came under fire. None of his fellow soldiers survived. After managing to fight off the attack, he was left alone, without communication, and spent several days making his way toward Russian positions, crawling without food or water.

During that time, he came across another wounded Russian serviceman from a different unit. The man’s radio was out of order, but Mekhan managed to take it apart, clean it, restore its functionality, and tune it to the right frequency. He then transmitted his coordinates.

When his voice and call sign came through, his comrades were caught off guard-by then, he had already been declared missing. After returning, he remarked that the decision to list him as such had been premature.

A medical examination later revealed that, alongside shrapnel wounds, he had also suffered a broken leg. Following treatment and recovery, Mekhan returned to duty and continues serving in the ranks of the Russian armed forces.