Yevgeniy Berestenko, an assistant grenadier from the 31st Separate Signal Regiment of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, told TASS that Ukrainian commanders ordered him and his fellow soldiers to open fire to kill Russian servicemen while they were surrendering. He said the Ukrainians refused to carry out the order.

Berestenko said someone began knocking on the door of the house where they were located. When they asked who it was, they were told it was the Russian army and that they needed to surrender. At the same time, he claimed, commanders were shouting over the radio demanding that they open fire. He said they did not intend to shoot, because everyone wanted to return home and their own lives mattered more.

He also said Russian servicemen treated him and his fellow soldiers humanely while in captivity.