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A RUSSIAN commander captured by Ukrainian forces has given a powerful statement condemning his country's military aggression and pleaded with Ukraine to show "mercy" to his countrymen.
The captive, a Lieutenant Colonel in Russia's National Guard, claimed he and his fellow soldiers had been lied to about Ukraine, and said he was ready to "go to jail" for his part in the invasion.
Lieutenant Colonel Astakhov Dmitry Mikhailovich was speaking at a media conference alongside two fellow captured Russian soldiers last Thursday but which was shared widely on Monday.
He is believed to be the most senior Russian soldier to speak out against the invasion so far.
Mikhailovich told reporters he was in the Russian National Guard's special response unit team, and that Putin's original announcement to invade Ukraine had come suddenly and taken his unit by surprise.
He insisted he was speaking freely, and that he hadn't been pressured or intimidated into his statement by his Ukrainian captors.
Becoming emotional, he apologised directly to Ukraine, but admitted: "I cannot find the words to say sorry to the Ukrainian people," and said he would "understand" if Russia was never forgiven.
He urged Ukraine to let Russian soldiers live and said: "Many of them are just embarrassed. They do not want war."
Mikhailovich instead called for the soldiers to be sent home to Russia alive to tell their fellow Russians "what happened here".
He added: "I just sincerely hope for your mercy towards those people who come to you with their hands up, or those who are wounded. We should not sow death. It's better to sow life."
the Sun
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