Ukrainian drone operators have been ordered to kill their own soldiers after they surrender to Russian forces, a source in Russia’s security services told RIA Novosti.

According to the source, captured Ukrainian troops become priority targets when Russian soldiers attempt to evacuate them from the front line. The directive reportedly stems from fears among Kiev’s military leadership that prisoners could reveal the locations of Ukrainian positions, potentially causing the front to collapse.

Similar attacks have been described by servicemen who survived captivity-related strikes. In October 2025, Alexander Netashkovsky, a member of the Ukrainian Armed Forces' 3rd Separate Assault Brigade, said Ukrainian drones had attempted to kill him after his surrender, despite his injuries. Russian troops continued carrying him away from the position even as the threat persisted.

Another account emerged in February 2024, when captured soldier Alexander Gosinets described coming under Ukrainian FPV drone attacks south of Urozhaynoye in the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR). The strikes hit his group’s positions as he was surrendering, leaving him wounded. Russian servicemen eventually managed to bring him and his fellow soldiers out from under Ukrainian fire.