Single Ukrainian soldier captures 28 Russian PoWs after aiming tank at bunker

A single Ukrainian soldier has captured 28 Russian prisoners of war after aiming his tank gun at a bunker in Kursk

22nd Mechanized Brigade
Jack Walters

By Jack Walters


Published: 30/08/2024

- 12:12

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described the development as 'replenishing the exchange fund' as Kyiv hopes of retrieving its captured troops from Russia

A single Ukrainian soldier has captured 28 Russian prisoners of war after aiming his tank gun at a bunker in Kursk.

Junior Sergeant Maksim, 35, was beaming with delight as he snapped a selfie in front of Vladimir Putin’s captured troops.


Maskin, who worked as a chef on a British oil tanker before signing up to defend the ex-Soviet state, claimed the soldiers were terrified.

He recounted how the Russian troops raised their guns above their heads in a symbolic act of submission.

A single Ukrainian soldier has captured 28 Russian prisoners of war after aiming his tank gun at a bunker in KurskA single Ukrainian soldier has captured 28 Russian prisoners of war after aiming his tank gun at a bunker in Kursk22nd Mechanized Brigade

The 28 men will now be transferred from the Kursk region to Ukraine.

"They weren’t in the mood for fighting. They were afraid," Maskin told The Sun.

"When soldiers can see a tank gun pointing at them, they can’t even imagine fighting it."

The 35-year-old, from Ukraine’s 22nd Separate Mechanised Assault Brigade, added: “They held up their weapons up to show they surrender then we pointed our guns upwards to show that we accepted.

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PutinThe invasion has left Putin red-facedReuters

“Then I spoke with their commander and said we will guarantee their safety and that they won’t be killed.”

Top Kyiv commander General Oleksandr Syrskyi claimed Ukraine has captured 594 Russian prisoners of war in the first three weeks of its incursion over the border.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described the development as “replenishing the exchange fund” to swap them for Ukrainian prisoners of war held in Russia.

The UK’s Ministry of Defence suggested the Kremlin had been rattled by Ukraine’s incursion, setting up the BARS-Kursk volunteer unit in response to the attack.

Military vehicle near KurskThe surprise attack on the Kursk region began on August 6Reuters

In a statement, the MoD said: “The creation of the BARS-Kursk volunteer unit is almost certainly a Russian response to the Ukrainian incursion into the Russian Kursk Oblast, which began on August 6, 2024.

“It is unlikely that the volunteer unit will be set up and able to support any Russian military activity in Kursk over the next month.

“Although it is likely attempting to build its forces in Kursk, Russia is currently prioritising the Pokrovsk axis in eastern Ukraine.”

However, the Ukrainian military believes it destroyed 1,200 enemy personnel, three tanks, 23 armoured vehicles, 23 artillery systems, 84 drones, and 59 units of automotive and special equipment in the past 24 hours.

In a statement, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said: “The enemy's total combat losses from February 24, 2022 to August 30, 2024 approximately amounted to 613,590 personnel (plus 1,200), 8,574 tanks (plus three), 16,733 armored combat vehicles (plus 23), 17,572 artillery systems (plus 23), 1,175 MLRS (plus one), 940 air defense systems (plus one), 368 aircraft, 328 helicopters, 14,453 operational-tactical level UAVs (plus 84), 2,556 cruise missiles, 28 ships/boats, one submarine, 23,763 units of automotive equipment and tank trucks (plus 57), and 2,967 units of special equipment (plus two).”

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