A Russian soldier surrendered. Ukrainians gave him tea, food, and let him call his mother on video.

[kpete]

Last edited Wed Mar 2, 2022, 10:45 AM - Edit history (1)

A Russian soldier surrendered. Ukrainians gave him tea, food, and let him call his mother on video. I want to cry from how much I love my country.

Video shared on Ukrainian channels of a captured Russian soldier apparently being fed by locals. The post says he burst into tears when he was allowed to video-call his mother. So many of these troops are just teenagers, with absolutely no clue what this war is really for.

Link to tweet

?s=20&t=lOUt14zsUh125NIlad9eRw

Link to tweet

?s=20&t=-IwLoYbD-xbY3GtSEatbNA

[Johnny2X2X]

1. Geneva Convention

There's been some talk that using videos of captured soldiers is against the Geneva Convention. While I agree it would be if this was army members filming and broadcasting this, this appears to be regular citizens doing the filming and posting the videos, so I think this isn't against the Geneva Convention that way.

[Chainfire]

7. It is against the convention to photograph prisoners of war. Place that on the scales with this

From Wiki:

A crime of aggression or crime against peace is the planning, initiation, or execution of an act of aggression using military force in violation of international law. The definition and scope of the crime of aggression is controversial, but the Rome Statute recognizes that acts of aggression include invasion, military occupation, annexation by the use of force, bombardment, and military blockade of ports.[1] Robert H. Jackson, the chief prosecutor of the Nuremberg trial, considered aggression to be "the supreme international crime" because "it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole".[2]

[Wednesdays]

12. Plus, the spirit of the law

I'm sure is to forbid videos of captured soldiers reciting propaganda in favor of the captors. Not videos of them merely eating and drinking.

[intheflow]

13. The Abu Ghraib photos came to my mind.

Definite prisoner humiliation depicted. Definitely against the GC.

[Wingus Dingus]

23. Yes, that was over the top. Horrible.

[intheflow]

10. There is nothing specific about filming prisoners

in the Geneva Convention. It says that prisoners of war cannot be humiliated by the organization imprisoning them. A couple points after that bullet about prisoner treatment requires them to be humanely treated. So this doesn't go against the GC because, as you noted, it's filming done by civilians, and it demonstrates both humane treatment and upholds the prisoner's dignity by allowing them food and contact with family.

Geneva Convention: http://hrlibrary.umn.edu/instree/y3gctpw.htm

[democratsruletheday]

18. I hear you Johnny BUT....

does Vlad and Russia adhere to the Geneva convention? Of course not. This is about winning hearts and minds, which the Ukraine gets. BTW....love your work on Spartan Tailgate (247) Tough loss last night.

[forgotmylogin]

19. I don't think he was technically captured...

But I agree in videos like this they especially need to be careful of soldier identities so they nor their families can be retaliated against.

It's slightly different than POW hostage videos intended for humiliation and terror.

[Wingus Dingus]

22. I'm worried about this too, because I don't want anything to damage Ukraine's

cause. However, I agree that this appears to be civilian video, not an official message from Ukraine armed forces or government.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

2. Would the Russians do this for a captured Ukrainian soldier, civilian?

Not very likely, they would kill them.

Ukraine is doing the right thing and I hope it spreads throughout the Russian invasion forces and we see a lot more of this.

[JI7]

8. depends on the circumstances . In similar case they would

like the Russians who are protesting against Putin and risking their lives .

[Tickle]

3. please let more of this happen

I wish all of Russia would put their guns down and stop fighting. My heart aches as I watch them destroy Ukraine it's becoming all rubble.

[BeckyDem]

4. I love this.

Thank you for posting.

[brewens]

5. Russians have a history of treating troops badly. They had deserters at Stalingrad going over to the

Germans even after the Germans were surrounded. Of course, those guys didn't know that. I wonder how many of them survived? Maybe none.

[Irish_Dem]

6. Ukrainians are an incredible people.

So much good will and grace under dire circumstances.

[Oneironaut]

9. Ukraine's propaganda game is on point. It's impressive!

Not that this is fake or anything, but, they’ve been using information warfare so effectively. The perception now is this:

Russian troops - Murderers, looters, rapists, untrained 18-year-old conscripts that are bumbling around with no real goal or desire to fight in this war. Using garbage equipment from the 70s that barely runs.

Ukraine troops - Heroes, freedom fighters, relatable. They treat Russians well despite not being treated well back. Their army is more professional, and is stacking up victory after victory.

[Beakybird]

11. The Russians can't complain about wartime Geneva Convention.

They said this isn't war.

[Crunchy Frog]

14. That boy looked really dehydrated the way he was frantically gulping the tea.

Really hungry too.

The Russians look like they're having serious problems providing their troops with the basic necessities.

[KS Toronado]

16. Sure took him a long time to drink that tea.

Wonder if it was real hot?

[not fooled]

17. Putin channeling rummy?

You go to war with the army you have...not supplied properly so you can play out your megalomaniacal conquest fantasies on the cheap.

[malthaussen]

25. Well, I saw a pic the other day alleging to be of a Russian field ration...

... issued to Spetsnaz, whom you would expect to get the best stuff. It's expiration date was 2015.

So, yeah, it seems like the Russians haven't really learned jack shit about logistics since WW2.

-- Mal

[KG]

15. russians keep dropping bombs on civilians, this attitude might change.

[IronLionZion]

20. Morale might be low on the Russian side

they have supply chain problems and many of them look like they don't want to be there.

[onecaliberal]

21. They are such good people.

[DFW]

24. I once saw a movie with the following clip

Apparently, Putin never saw the film................

[Victor_c3]

26. I bet you that made his Mother's day

She knows her son is now removed from the fighting.

I wonder what the future looks like for these POW’s. If Russia ever takes control of the country and “liberates” this guy, will they be allowed to just return to Russia or will they be treated like pariahs? In our country, we all know what the GOP thinks of our recovered POW’s.

[LittleGirl]

27. Oh man! I was a bucket of tears watching that.

2 minutes and I’m a blubbering mess.
Should have a warning label!