Kenyan Mercenary Duped Into Russia’s War Surrenders to Ukrainian Drone in Kharkiv Forest

Several Russian soldiers, including a Kenyan national and individuals recruited from Russian prisons, surrendered to Ukrainian forces in the Kharkiv region after being tracked and directed by aerial drones.

According to a video released by the 127th Separate Mechanized Brigade of Ukraine, the soldiers gave themselves up over the course of two days after realizing they had been abandoned by their command.

The footage, published on the brigade’s official channel, documents how aerial reconnaissance units used drones to locate enemy positions in forested areas.

In one instance, after several hours of observation and pursuit, a group of Russian soldiers dropped their weapons and signaled their intent to surrender directly to the drone’s camera. The drone then guided them toward Ukrainian lines using a flashlight.

One of the captured individuals, identified as a Kenyan national, stated that he had been recruited under the pretext of civilian employment and was not aware he would be participating in combat operations. Upon discovering he had been sent to fight in Ukraine, he chose to surrender.

Another prisoner reported that he had signed a military contract while suffering from chronic illnesses and only after coercion in prison. He described an initial phase of recruitment through propaganda, which later escalated to physical pressure.

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According to the 127th Brigade, this method of drone-assisted surrender is becoming increasingly common, particularly among convicts forcibly mobilized by Russian authorities. In these cases, the decision to surrender is often driven by the absence of support from Russian command structures and the realization that battlefield survival is unlikely.

Ukrainian forces emphasized that prisoners of war are treated in accordance with international humanitarian law. Captured individuals are provided with medical assistance, food, and water upon arrival.

Earlier, Ukraine’s 3rd Separate Assault Brigade conducted a first-of-its-kind operation in the Kharkiv region where Russian troops surrendered to unmanned ground platforms without any direct infantry involvement.

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