Ukrainian forces have captured more than 240 Russian soldiers since their surprise invasion of Russia’s Kursk region this month, according to an analysis of visual evidence that includes mass detentions of young troops appearing to surrender without resistance.
The Washington Post reviewed more than 130 photos and videos taken since the incursion began on August 6, most of which appear to have been filmed by Ukrainian soldiers and shared on social media. The analysis included photos taken by a Post photographer at a prison housing captured Russian soldiers in Ukraine. The verified visuals depict at least 247 Russian prisoners and support Ukrainian officials’ claims to have captured hundreds of Russians during the incursion.
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Some of the captured troops identify themselves in the videos as conscripts, Russians who are serving mandatory time in the military. Conscripts are not generally expected to face battle, and their capture in recent days creates a politically sensitive problem for Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to analysts.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a video of Russian soldiers surrendering en masse like that,” said Dara Massicot, a senior fellow with the Russia and Eurasia Programme at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. “My instinct upon seeing those videos was that those soldiers were not combat-experienced troops who have been fighting inside Ukraine.”
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