Kherson Region Governor Vladimir Saldo informed that a group of soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) decided to swim across the Dnieper River to surrender to the Russian army.
Specifically, on the night of April 17 and early morning of April 18, at least 3 AFU soldiers crossed the Dnieper and surrendered. Before crossing the river, they announced their intentions to the Russian side.
“Everything was coordinated and went smoothly. Now they will survive and after Russia’s victory in the Northern Military District, they will return to their families,” Vladimir Saldo said.
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| Many Ukrainian soldiers chose to surrender to save their lives. Photo: Topwar |
Earlier, AFU soldier Victor Fedorchuk told how he surrendered to the Russian military with the help of a drone. The Ukrainian soldier waved at the drone, which then guided him to the positions of the Russian military.
Meanwhile, the Russian Defense Ministry announced that in the Omsk region, Russian defense enterprises have received a request to accelerate the production of the TOS-1A “Solntsepek” heavy flamethrower system.
Russia's TASS news agency quoted a source from the Russian Defense Ministry as saying: "The Defense Minister has received a report on the production of TOS-1A systems increasing 2.5 times compared to the same period last year.
The Russian defense industry enterprise said the increased output was achieved by expanding production capacity, increasing the number of employees and switching the enterprise to a two-shift work schedule lasting 24 hours a day.
The above process was carried out in accordance with the defense order announced by Russian Defense Minister, General Sergei Shoigu, during a visit to an enterprise in the Omsk region.
Earlier, Rossiyskaya Gazeta reported that the TOS-1A “Solntsepek” and TOS-2 “Tosochka” flamethrower systems had their protection capabilities enhanced based on combat experience in Ukraine.
Regarding the war situation, the AFU has been drawn into an attrition trap by the Russian army in the Donetsk region. Bloody battles are taking place and the AFU is suffering significant losses.
Except for the Northeastern Front with the focus on Kharkov, which was relatively quiet, in all other areas, the Russian army launched attacks with moderate intensity, advancing slowly but surely. This forced the AFU, which had been significantly damaged after the summer-autumn counteroffensive last year, to struggle to resist and was constantly depleted.
Russian military raid at Ocheretino north of Avdiivka, destroying Ukraine's active defense tactics.
Russian assault units are effectively attacking the enemy's fortified defensive positions in Ocheretino and Novokalinovo. After passing Ocheretino from the south, the fighting is being pushed into the urban area with overwhelming Russian superiority.
AFU is having to increase its reserve force with the aim of slowing down the Russian attack.
The simultaneous breakthrough of the Russian army on all fronts forced the Ukrainian soldiers to carry out a hasty and unprepared rotation. This process was also subjected to heavy bombardment by the Russian air force and artillery, making the defense efforts ineffective and costly.
In the northwest of Avdivka, the revised map shows that Ukrainian troops are still present at the Berdychi cemetery. On the other hand, Moscow’s forces are making new advances at Novokalynove as the enemy continues to withdraw from other trenches to the north. Furthermore, clashes are taking place between the two sides at the 110kV railway substation in Ocheretino, which is currently considered to be in the grey zone.
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| Russia is ramping up production of its heavy-duty "Solar Storm" flamethrower system. Photo: AP |
In the direction of Novokalynove, the appearance of Russian units was recorded, causing the entire Ukrainian defense line to be stretched and ineffective. In the northwest of the city of Donetsk, after 3 days of fighting, the Russian army entered the first houses of the village of Netailov.
In the Avdeevka direction, Russian troops penetrated the Ukrainian defenses to a depth of 2.5 km. Battles are taking place in the area of the Ocheretino-Vuzlova substation along Zaliznychna Street.
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