this post was submitted on 12 Nov 2023
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Russia said a battalion of Ukrainian prisoners of war, or POWs, would soon be sent to the front lines to fight against their own country, state media reported.

State media said troops had taken an oath of allegiance, but the move could still be a violation of international laws concerning warfare. It also raises questions about the need to use POWs, in particular about the state and quality of Russia's forces as they suffer a high number of casualties on the battlefield.

On November 7, the Russian state media outlet RIA Novosti said Ukrainian POWs in the "Bogdan Khmelnitsky" battalion swore an oath of allegiance to Russia and would soon deploy into battle. The outlet had said in late October that Russian authorities were planning to send the group — described as a battalion including about 70 prisoners from various penal colonies — to the front lines and that they were conducting relevant training in preparation.

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[–] [email protected] 146 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Pulling the same shjt the Nazis did to people of Alsace (France), my grandfather had to fight on the side of Germany in 1940. Luckily he defected and live to tell the tale (making my own existence a reality) 🫡

[–] [email protected] 46 points 9 months ago

My grandpa was forcibly recruited in Poland and defected later to fight against nazis. The funny shit though is - my grandma was German. So dad applied for German citizenship for the entire family. We all got it, except for him (the person who had the most emotional connection to the country). Reason being? His dad betrayed the German state.

My dad got denied a citizenship cause his dad betrayed Hitler lol

[–] [email protected] 107 points 9 months ago (1 children)

But guys, they swore an oath of loyalty to Russia, the plan is foolproof.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 9 months ago

Curse their sudden, but inevitable, betrayal!

[–] [email protected] 56 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

Best of luck returning to their home and being repatriated with the mental health support they'll need from this experience. Praying for the heros to be able to identify and have an opportunity to rescue them.

Slava Ukrainia

[–] [email protected] 35 points 9 months ago (5 children)

What's going to stop them from just surrendering to whoever they're fighting?

[–] [email protected] 36 points 9 months ago (2 children)

Same thing they do to Russian troops, they'll shoot anyone that tries.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 9 months ago (2 children)

Curious how that will work out in an actual combat scenario.

Is there just a direct line of sight to would-be defectors at all times? Seems like in the heat of battle, it would be pretty difficult for Russians to fight their own soldiers as well as Ukraine's.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 9 months ago

That's the power of organizational knowledge

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Well, there is a chance they'll miss as there are hundreds of russians caught by the Ukrainians. Lets hope they liberate their country men.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago

Best case, the POWs and Ukrainian Forces both have a clear understanding of surrender procedurals.

[–] [email protected] 28 points 9 months ago

The fact that they won’t be “fighting” fighting…

More likely, they’ll be told to blindly run towards hidden Ukrainian positions to help expose them. All while being shot at by russians behind them. It’s disgusting, the thought of being forced into friendly fire for tactical gain…

A weird symmetry with the tales about russian squads that are singularly tasked with shooting any russian that retreats…

[–] [email protected] 13 points 9 months ago

They will most likely be used to attract javelin missiles in barely working vehicles while flanked by tanks or they will find anti infantry mines the hard way. There is no escape except death.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Most likely being executed by higher ups.

[–] [email protected] 23 points 9 months ago (3 children)

They could also kill those higher-ups first. I'm not sure why the Russians think giving them guns will work out well for them.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 9 months ago (2 children)

A Russian battalion has 900 men. The article stated that there were only about 70 POW's. Basically they are surrounded by Russian soldiers so even with weapons they would only be able to take out a few people around them before being killed themselves.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 9 months ago (2 children)

If they're being sent to die anyway, why not take out people around them?

[–] [email protected] 21 points 9 months ago

It's easy to say that when you aren't the one dying

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago

Because escaping and living is still the best option.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago (1 children)

They might convince their squad mates to defect and surrender.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago

Most likely scenario.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 9 months ago (1 children)

The Russians don't always give their soldiers guns.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 9 months ago

Everybody sleeps, everybody bleeds.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 9 months ago

In the real world it is a lot harder for people being threatened by violence to risk their lives for a positive group outcome than it seems to those of us sitting in our chairs in no direct danger.

Most people don't want to be the one who dies trying for the positive group outcome.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 9 months ago
[–] [email protected] 6 points 9 months ago

Russia is a nation of trolls

[–] [email protected] 5 points 9 months ago (1 children)

What could possibly go wrong?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago

Pretty sure we are well down that road.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Business Insider

Did ye aye

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago

business insider kens fit like

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago

This is the best summary I could come up with:


Russia said a battalion of Ukrainian prisoners of war, or POWs, would soon be sent to the front lines to fight against their own country, state media reported.

It also raises questions about the need to use POWs, in particular about the state and quality of Russia's forces as they suffer a high number of casualties on the battlefield.

On November 7, the Russian state media outlet RIA Novosti said Ukrainian POWs in the "Bogdan Khmelnitsky" battalion swore an oath of allegiance to Russia and would soon deploy into battle.

The outlet had said in late October that Russian authorities were planning to send the group — described as a battalion including about 70 prisoners from various penal colonies — to the front lines and that they were conducting relevant training in preparation.

Around Avdiivka on the border of occupied Donetsk, Russia has launched a renewed offensive that's resulted in significant Russian casualties, as well as severe vehicle losses.

The battalion of POWs has previously been called a "volunteer" group, and its commander said their contracts were "concluded on general terms," RIA Novosti reported.


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