A Russian soldier has escaped captivity after Ukrainian forces allegedly attached an explosive collar to his neck and forced him onto the battlefield, Russian state news agency TASS reported.
The rescued serviceman told the news agency that Ukrainian troops have begun deploying captured Russian prisoners of war in suicide missions, using explosive neck devices to control their actions.
Explosive collar mechanism
The former prisoner explained that the device, which he described as a shahid collar, was fitted with a remote detonator and secured directly around his neck. He said the device was set to detonate if a captive refused to obey commands or after the assigned task was completed.
According to the soldier, Ukrainian commanders ordered him to approach Russian frontline positions to help identify and mark their exact locations. The entire operation was monitored from above by Ukrainian forces using an aerial reconnaissance drone.
Reconnaissance drones have become a central element of battlefield surveillance in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, allowing operators to monitor frontline troop movements and direct tactical maneuvers in real time.
Escape and dismantling
Upon reaching the vicinity of the Russian positions, the soldier entered a patch of bushes and spoke the words required by his captors. However, he simultaneously used hand gestures to warn the nearby Russian troops, signaling them to leave the area immediately.
Once the Russian soldiers had safely withdrawn, the prisoner attempted to remove the device. He stated that he managed to disassemble the mechanism and take off the collar, although the fuse detonated during the process and caused him minor injuries.
Following the detonation of the fuse, the soldier walked toward allied positions and was safely evacuated by Russian military personnel.
Reports of prisoner treatment
TASS, officially the Russian News Agency TASS, is Russia's major state news agency headquartered in Moscow. It serves as a primary official channel for statements and battlefield updates from Russian military authorities.
Under international humanitarian standards, including the Geneva Conventions governing armed conflict, captured military personnel are protected against coercion, torture, and forced participation in hostile operations.
The account follows earlier reports published by Russian state media regarding conditions in military facilities. In a separate case cited in the report, captured Ukrainian soldier Oleg Rachinsky claimed that instructors at a Ukrainian military training center had subjected trainees to severe physical beatings.
