(DOBROPILLIA, DONETSK REGION, UKRAINE) – Ukrainian forces have captured 18 Russian soldiers following a 24 hour operation in the Zolotyi Kolodiaz area near the town of Dobropillia in eastern Ukraine, according to fighters from the International Battalion of the 12th Azov Brigade.
The operation took place in the Dobropillia sector, where Russian troops had established fortified positions in basements and residential buildings. Ukrainian commanders said the enemy had attempted to hold the village by using underground shelters and reinforced firing points.
To break the resistance, units from the International Battalion, known as “Interbat”, were deployed to conduct a final clearing operation. The mission focused on securing a single street where intelligence suggested several Russian soldiers were concentrated.
According to Ukrainian fighters, the first prisoners were taken near the entrance to the street. The detainees later assisted Ukrainian forces in identifying additional Russian positions on a parallel road, including one occupied by an officer.
A foreign volunteer involved in the operation said the information provided by the first group of prisoners made it easier to secure further surrenders. He added that one of the detainees spoke English and helped facilitate communication.
Ukrainian forces used armoured vehicles and drones, including Bradley fighting vehicles and a heavy “Baba Yaga” drone, to apply pressure on the remaining defenders. Fighters said the presence of a 30 millimetre cannon and repeated drone strikes left Russian troops with few options.
Several captured soldiers described being forced to hide in basements as Ukrainian artillery and drones targeted their positions. One detainee said his unit had run out of ammunition and medical supplies before deciding to surrender.
Others said they had been wounded by mines and shrapnel and were unable to move. Despite this, they reported being ordered by their commanders to continue advancing.
Some detainees criticised their superiors, saying they had been sent into narrow, exposed positions and later abandoned. One former soldier said his radio communications with headquarters were cut after he reported that many of his men could no longer walk.
Several prisoners also claimed that wounded soldiers had gone without treatment for months. They said medical support and supplies were rarely delivered to frontline units.
In contrast, the detainees said they received medical care, food, blankets and hot drinks after being taken into Ukrainian custody. One said he was surprised by what he described as dignified treatment.
“If I had known earlier that surrendering would be like this, I would have done it immediately,” one prisoner said.
Another said Russian commanders frequently used threats and insults to force soldiers to advance. He claimed that at least one soldier had taken his own life after being ordered to move forward under fire, and that superiors had shown little concern.
Ukrainian officers said their aim during the operation was to encourage surrender wherever possible. Fighters said they warned defenders that they would use explosives and direct fire if resistance continued.
In most cases, Russian soldiers chose to surrender, according to Ukrainian accounts. Others were killed while attempting to resist and exploit their knowledge of the terrain.
Some detainees said they initially believed they had been captured by NATO forces, reflecting what they described as confusion fuelled by Russian propaganda.
They also expressed surprise at the presence of foreign volunteers, including Americans and Poles, fighting alongside Ukrainian troops.
One prisoner said the organisation, equipment and discipline of Ukrainian units were “like night and day” compared with his own.
The operation to retake the area lasted 21 days, according to Ukrainian officials. Commanders said the final phase marked the collapse of organised resistance in the sector.
Several detainees described the war as “senseless” and said responsibility lay with the Russian government. One said millions of young men had been lost, although independent figures are unavailable.
Ukrainian authorities said the capture of the platoon highlighted ongoing weaknesses in Russian frontline command and logistics.
The Ministry of Defence in Kyiv said it would continue operations aimed at liberating occupied territory and encouraging enemy forces to surrender.
