Ukraine's National Guard unit No 3017 captured four Russian soldiers on the Zaporizhzhia front during an attempt by Russian forces to reclaim lost positions. Three soldiers were from the 136th Separate Motorised Rifle Brigade and one from the 1430th Motorised Rifle Regiment.

Personnel from the National Guard's unit No 3017 captured four Russian soldiers on the Zaporizhzhia front, replenishing Ukraine's exchange fund.

The Russians were captured in the course of their attempt to reclaim the positions they had lost earlier.

Three of the Russian soldiers were serving in the 136th Separate Motorised Rifle Brigade, and one in the 1430th Motorised Rifle Regiment of the territorial forces of the Russian Federation.

Two of them are contract soldiers.

The captured soldiers spoke in formalities, claiming that they came to Ukraine to protect civilians from 'Nazis' and to liberate 'their' lands.

They claimed that they have been serving for under a year and have not been given appropriate military training or taken part in hostilities during this time.

They also said that their units were suffering from low morale and were unmotivated to carry out assault operations.

One of the prisoners said he was punished for refusing to take part in hostilities and only returned to the front for fear of imprisonment.

All of the prisoners said that Russian men were being mobilised under threat of criminal liability (8-15 years of imprisonment) for refusing to take part in the so-called 'special operation'.

Those who join are promised social guarantees and the prospect of getting rich quickly.

Ukrainian forces are conducting offensive operations and securing tactical gains in western Zaporizhzhia Oblast