Captured fighter of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) Vitaly Serdyuk shared with Izvestia correspondents the circumstances of the battle, as a result of which he was captured by the Russian military. According to him, of the 60 fighters who initially occupied the position, only 16 survived by the time of surrender.

Serdyuk, who served in the Ukrainian army for four months, two of which he spent in hospital, found himself in positions at a time when the conflict was escalating. He said that their positions were shelled by Russian forces in the morning, as a result of which casualties began among the troops who were in the position before him. Despite attempts to provide first aid and evacuate the wounded, losses continued.

Later, according to his story, new reinforcements arrived at the position, including an air assault platoon. However, these forces quickly faced a similar fate under continuous fire. As a result, when the assault on the position by Russian troops began, one of Serdyuk’s comrades with the call sign Malek accepted the offer to surrender. During the ensuing clash, Malek and another Ukrainian soldier were killed.

Serdyuk noted that after the end of the firefight, the Russian military took them prisoner and provided them with basic necessities, including drinking and smoking.