Topics: Russia, Ukraine, World News, Twitter, Social Media
**Warning: Footage of warfare some may find upsetting.**
People are flooding to social media gobsmacked over footage showing a Russian soldier surrendering to a Ukrainian drone.
Despite the sheer amount of resources and citizens Russian President Vladimir Putin's poured into his invasion of Ukraine since sending troops across the border on 24 February, 2022, the war continues.
Reports of Russian troops' morale slowly depleting have rolled in, with some conscripted soldiers having even allegedly called Ukraine's Defence Ministry asking how to surrender.
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On 9 May, 'a unique event of historic proportions took place,' which saw a Russian soldier surrender to a Ukrainian drone near to Bakhmut - a city in eastern Ukraine - before making his way across no man's land.
Albina Fella, who shares posts from Telegram, took to Twitter to reveal the 'full video', alleging the Russian soldier decided to surrender after he saw one of his fellow comrades 'commit suicide by putting a grenade under his head' after being 'wounded by drops from drones'.
In the clip, the soldier can be seen raising his hands and making gestures to communicate he isn't going to fight anymore, pointing at himself and then making a sideways motion around his neck.
Fella's post continues: "The fighters of the CODE 9.2 group, already recognized all over the world as virtuosos in destroying occupiers using drones, decided to save his life and, with the assistance of the crew of the ACHILES UAV company, transmitted instructions on how and where to go [for occupier] by dropping the package from the drone.
"The invader read the instructions and went to surrender. His commanders, seeing from their drone that their soldier was surrendering, tried to destroy him with an artillery strike, but did not hit. Drone operators escorted him and handed him over to the valiant warriors of the 3rd Battalion of the 92nd Brigade."
Twitter users have flocked to the platform, stunned by the video.
One user wrote: "This footage is incredible, never seen anything like it.
"A Russian soldier, who doesn't want to fight, attempts to communicate with a Ukrainian drone in order to surrender. The drone gives him instructions telling him to follow it, he treads through no man's land following the drone, all while being shot at by his former comrades for daring to surrender. He survives after an astonishing journey through hell."
"This is incredible footage! This is real! This is war... terrifying. The Russians firing at their own as he is surrendering. He is safe to live another day," another said.
According to Fella's post, the Russian soldier is originally from the Pskov region.
The post concludes: "The invader [...] is safe. He, unlike thousands of others, will not be left to rot on Ukrainian soil and got a chance to be useful - to be exchanged for one of the Ukrainian Defenders."
In a later video, a man - alleged to be the Russian soldier who surrendered to the drone in the video - says: "I am [name], a serviceman of the Russian army. The quadcopter saved my life today."
If you would like to donate to the Red Cross Emergency Appeal, which will help provide food, medicines and basic medical supplies, shelter and water to those in Ukraine, click here for more information
