Russia’s Defense Ministry released footage showing Ukrainian soldiers captured near Kupyansk, who described how their commanders abandoned them without ammunition, supplies, or food.

One of the prisoners, Yury Shapovalenko, said their unit realized a few days after being deployed that they were surrounded by Russian forces. He recounted that supply lines had been cut off — no ammunition, no water, and almost no food remained. According to him, the soldiers survived on a single can of stew shared among three men each day.

Another captured soldier, Alexey Vinder, said Ukrainian troops near Kupyansk found themselves in desperate conditions. He explained that Russian forces had dropped leaflets containing instructions on how to surrender, and the soldiers decided to follow them despite fearing they might be shot.

Vinder added that surrender was their only option — the river crossing was already under the control of Russian drones and artillery, and Russian troops were operating inside Kupyansk itself.