Ukrainian Soldiers Capture Egyptian IT Student Drafted in Russia

Ukrainian soldiers from the 79th Separate Air Assault Brigade captured an Egyptian national who was fighting alongside Russian forces in the Kurakhove direction in Donetsk region.

This was reported by Orest Drymalovskyi, a spokesperson for the brigade, during a national telethon on October 18.

According to Drymalovskyi, the Ukrainian paratroopers recently took captive an Egyptian who had come to Russia to pursue higher education in IT. However, just a month after obtaining a Russian passport, he got drafted.

“He’s an interesting character, speaks four languages—he’s a polyglot. He’ll live,” Drymalovskyi remarked.

He also mentioned another prisoner: “This is a typical representative of the Russian army—a former convict who joined the war against Ukraine for 200,000 rubles [approximately $2,000 - ed.].”

Drymalovskyi addressed reports suggesting that Russian soldiers were ordered to detonate grenades to avoid capture by Ukrainians. He noted that Russian assault troops were also losing the motivation to advance and were resorting to self-detonation or suicide with their rifles.

Russia has increasingly recruited migrants to address personnel shortages in its military amid ongoing casualties and mobilization struggles. Many migrants, working in Russia or seeking economic opportunities, enlist due to their vulnerable status and promises of financial incentives, including offers of Russian citizenship.

It’s been reported that nearly 11,000 North Korean soldiers are currently training in eastern Russia to prepare for deployment to Ukraine, Ukrainian Defense Intelligence Directorate chief Kyrylo Budanov said in an interview with The War Zone on October 17.