Pro-Russian DPR Says It Has Caught A Ukrainian Soldier Alive

These images purport to show the pro-Russian Donetsk People’s Republic catching a Ukrainian soldier alive.

The footage appears to show soldiers from the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) walking through some undergrowth before they reach what appears to be a corpse on the ground.

One of the DPR soldiers fired a shot next to the ‘corpse’, who reportedly turns out to be a Ukrainian soldier who was apparently playing dead.

The soldier can be seen being escorted away by the DPR soldiers.

The images were obtained from the People’s Militia of the DPR on Friday, 21st October, along with a statement claiming that they show “the capture of a Ukrainian militant by the fighters of the Sparta battalion”.

The DPR added: “During the successful battle, the fighters of the legendary Sparta battalion were able not only to destroy the enemy group, but also to take one of the Ukrainian militants alive.”

We have not been able to independently verify the claims or the footage.

Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February in what the Kremlin is still calling a “special military operation”. Today marks the 240th day of the war.

DPR soldiers inspect dugouts of Ukrainian army in a field area in Ukraine in undated photo. Soldiers of Sparta battalion of the People’s Militia of the DPR captured Ukrainian soldier. (@nm_dnr/Newsflash)

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February and 21st October, Russia had lost about 66,750 personnel, 2,573 tanks, 5,258 armoured combat vehicles, 1,648 artillery units, 372 multiple launch rocket systems, 189 air defence systems, 269 warplanes, 243 helicopters, 1,325 drones, 329 cruise missiles, 16 warships, 4,006 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 147 units of special equipment.

Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures.

The White House has said that Iran has increased its involvement in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine by giving technical support to Russian forces operating Iranian-made drones to bomb civilian targets.

John Kirby, of the White House’s National Security Council, said on Thursday that Iranian advisers were in Crimea to provide the Russian military with training and maintenance.

DPR soldiers aim guns at Ukrainian fighter laying on the ground in a field area in Ukraine in undated photo. Soldiers of Sparta battalion of the People’s Militia of the DPR captured Ukrainian soldier. (@nm_dnr/Newsflash)

The United Kingdom is applying new sanctions to three Iranian individuals and to a business for supplying Russia with drones to attack Ukraine.

The UK Foreign Office said in a statement that by providing drones to Russia, Iran is “actively warmongering, profiting off Russia’s abhorrent attacks on Ukrainian citizens, and adding to the suffering of the people and the destruction of critical infrastructure.”

The European Union agreed to apply sanctions against the same business and the three individuals shortly before the United Kingdom’s announcement.

Iran has denied supplying drones to Moscow and the Kremlin has accused the West of trying to put “pressure” on Iran.

British intelligence has said that Russia’s recent admission that a “difficult situation has emerged” in the Kherson region shows that the Russian authorities could be considering withdrawing their forces from the area west of the Dnipro River.

DPR soldiers inspect field area in Ukraine in undated photo. Soldiers of Sparta battalion of the People’s Militia of the DPR captured Ukrainian soldier. (@nm_dnr/Newsflash)

Ukraine has begun restricting electricity supplies across the country, beginning at 7am on Thursday. Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelensky, has said that over 300 attacks by Russia had destroyed a third of all power plants across Ukraine.

President Zelensky said that citizens need to prepare for “rolling blackouts”.

The UK Defence Secretary, Ben Wallace, has revealed that a Russian aircraft released a missile near a British plane that was patrolling over the Black Sea, in international airspace, on 29th September.

Wallace told the House of Commons that the Russians had attributed the incident to a “technical malfunction”.

DPR soldiers inspect field area in Ukraine in undated photo. Soldiers of Sparta battalion of the People’s Militia of the DPR captured Ukrainian soldier. (@nm_dnr/Newsflash)

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Thursday that Russian President Vladimir Putin is using energy and hunger as weapons but he added that he has failed to break the West’s unity and will not achieve his war aims through scorched earth tactics.

Scholz told the German Parliament: “We will not let Moscow’s latest escalation go unanswered. Scorched earth tactics will not help Russia win the war. They will only strengthen the unity and resolve of Ukraine and its partners.”

NATO‘s Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Thursday that the members will take action if Sweden or Finland come under pressure from Russia or another adversary before they have fully joined the alliance.