On February 24, 2022, Russia began its invasion of Ukraine. Since then, the war has not stopped, nor have the deaths and tragedies. On May 9, the Russian soldier Ruslan Anitin, was chased by Ukrainian drones that dropped small explosives. However, he was not afraid to make it known that he gave up and beg the drone’s camera to end the shelling.

The soldier’s pleas were seen at the command post of the 92nd Ukrainian Mechanized Brigade, where he was ordered to be taken alive.

The Ukrainian army chose to send a message to the Russian. For this, a note was inserted into the drone, which read: “Give up and follow the drone.” However, through signs, the soldier informed Ukraine that if he surrendered, his comrades would shoot at him. Finally, the soldier agrees to surrender and follow the Ukrainian drone until it reaches the area controlled by Kiev’s troops. To reach the location, he crossed dangerous terrain and had to dodge bullets from Russian troops .

A Ukrainian hotline for Russians who want to surrender has more than received 17,000 applications since last September, according to information from Ukrainian officials quoted by The Wall Street Journal.

Ruslan Antin, the soldier captured by the drone, is 30 years old and used to work in a liquor store in Idritsa. One Sunday night, he received a call telling him to report to his local recruiting office. They told him to be ready to leave on Monday. Otherwise you would be confronted prison sentences for evasion.

After brief training, Anitin and other recruits were sent to Ukraine to fortify the border. They received orders at the beginning of May go to Bakhmut to cover retreating assault teams.

Anitin was able to confront jail when he is sent back to Russia in a prisoner exchange.