How a Russian Soldier Can Surrender
The Russian military leadership is lying – the losses of the Russian army in Ukraine are already estimated at hundreds of thousands. Being sent to the frontline for a Russian soldier almost certainly means injury or death.
But you still have a chance to stay alive and keep your health!
To do this, you need to voluntarily surrender to Ukrainian forces. Ukraine respects international law and strictly follows the provisions of the Geneva Convention on the Treatment of Prisoners of War, guaranteeing the right to life, humane treatment, and decent conditions of detention.
We offer instructions on how to surrender properly.
Who you can surrender to:
To the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other Ukrainian military formations, including the Territorial Defense Forces, the National Police, the National Guard, and the Security Service of Ukraine.
How to surrender if you are alone:
Remove the magazine and hang your weapon over your left shoulder with the barrel pointing down.
Raise and show empty hands.
Raise a white cloth above your head.
Loudly shout “I surrender!”.
Approach only when instructed.
Follow the commands of Ukrainian soldiers.
How a group or an entire unit can surrender:
Place all weapons on the ground in front of you at a distance.
Stand in front of your military vehicles. Turn them off – they must not be in combat mode.
Choose a negotiator to inform Ukrainian forces about your intention to surrender. It must be an officer or the most senior in rank. Carrying a white flag and unarmed.
Surrendering Through the “I Want to Live” Project
For Russian servicemen who want to voluntarily surrender, the 24-hour hotline of the “I Want to Live” project operates under the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War.
Residents of temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine who want to avoid forced mobilization into occupying forces can also contact the project.
If you are in Russia, contact the “I Want to Live” Telegram chatbot, or reach out via Telegram or WhatsApp:
+380 95 68 86 888
+380 93 68 86 888
+380 97 68 86 688
Not only active soldiers can contact the project – relatives or people who may soon be mobilized can also apply. For such cases, a pre-surrender option is available: an application is submitted in advance, and once the person wishing to surrender is in Ukraine, they are transferred across the front line and taken to a safe place.
Advantages of surrendering through “I Want to Live”:
- official registration as captured in combat, preserving payments and benefits provided to Russian servicemen;
- legal support and monitoring by international organizations;
- regular contact with relatives;
- the opportunity to choose your future: return home through a prisoner exchange or seek refuge in Ukraine or some EU countries after the war.
More information is available at https://hochuzhit.com/ and on the “I Want to Live” Telegram channel.
What guarantees are provided to prisoners of war:
The right to life and the prohibition of torture in accordance with international law.
A phone call to relatives and loved ones.
What happens to soldiers after captivity:
They are exchanged for Ukrainian prisoners or released after the war ends. They return to their country.
All confiscated property (money and valuables) is returned to them.
Important: All those who voluntarily surrender will be officially registered as captured in combat. This is intended to protect servicemen from possible criminal prosecution after returning to their country.
Conditions for Russian Prisoners of War in Ukraine
All Russian prisoners of war in Ukraine receive medical care, live in adequate conditions, have three meals a day, can contact their families by phone, and receive parcels in the prisoner-of-war camp. This is something that most Ukrainian defenders and civilians held in Russia are deprived of.
Food. Prisoners of war eat three times a day. Their diet includes potatoes, fresh, dried, and canned vegetables, as well as four types of grains, pasta, meat, and fish. As in the army, prisoners have kitchen duty. They cook their own meals and bake bread.
Medical care. Camps have medical units, a paramedic, and a staff doctor. Upon arrival at the camp, all prisoners undergo a medical examination, and those who need assistance receive treatment. Specialists regularly visit the camps. If necessary, prisoners can be sent for treatment to specialized medical facilities.
Living conditions. Prisoners are provided with bedding, clothing, and shoes. Camps have hot water, and prisoners are allowed to shower several times a week.
Leisure. In camps, prisoners can do sports, like playing football. They can also talk to their families.
For more information on the treatment of Russian prisoners of war in Ukrainian camps, see here.
If you are a citizen of Ukraine from the occupied territories and the enemy is forcing you to fight against Ukraine
Sabotage the service – avoid draft notices. You are not considered notified until it has been delivered to you personally.
Since draft notices may also be sent via mobile applications for administrative services, delete them. Better yet, change your phone number or “lose” your smartphone.
Change your place of residence or leave the occupied territory through any available country. Before doing so, check whether there are checkpoints along your route.
Avoiding service after meeting a military commissar is much more difficult. From the military enlistment office you may be sent straight to war. In addition, an attempt to escape may be considered desertion, which, according to recent amendments to the Russian Criminal Code, carries a sentence of 5 to 15 years’ imprisonment.
If you cannot avoid service, do not carry out criminal orders. Otherwise, your actions may be considered a crime.
As soon as you reach territory controlled by Ukraine, surrender:
- Remove the magazine and hang the weapon over your left shoulder with the barrel pointing down.
- Raise and show your empty hands.
- Raise a white cloth above your head.
- Loudly shout “I surrender!”
- Approach only when instructed.
- Explain that you are a Ukrainian citizen from the occupied territories.
You can also contact the “I Want to Live” project. They will advise you on the next steps and help organize a safe crossing of the front line to territory controlled by Ukraine.
By following these instructions, you can stay alive and soon return to your family and loved ones.
