Ukrainian Forces Announce Capture of 27 Russian Soldiers in Kursk

The Ukrainian military has reported the successful capture of 27 Russian soldiers in the southwestern region of Kursk, a site of ongoing conflict since Ukraine initiated its military operations in the area last August.

A statement from the Ukrainian armed forces indicated that the captured personnel were taken by paratroopers and associated units during a recent engagement. The military noted that the captured soldiers hailed from various regions across Russia, including the annexed territory of Crimea.

According to the military's assessment, the Russian soldiers found themselves in a challenging combat scenario, leading them to make the decision to surrender voluntarily, which they claimed ultimately preserved their lives.

In a bid to substantiate their claims, Ukrainian officials released a video that purportedly shows the captured soldiers identifying themselves by name and rank, further affirming their status as prisoners of war.

This latest capture adds to the previous reports from last year, where Ukrainian forces claimed to have taken over 700 Russian soldiers during their operations in the Kursk region.

President Zelensky has previously characterized the military actions in Kursk as a strategic move to enhance what he describes as the "exchange fund"--referring to the pool of captured Russian soldiers that can be exchanged for Ukrainian personnel detained by Russian forces.