A Russian soldiers surrendered himself and a tank to Ukrainian authorities for $10,000 and a chance at Ukrainian citizenship, the Daily Mail reported on Sunday while not specifying exactly when the surrender occurred. The soldier, known only as “Misha”, turned himself and the T-72B3 battle tank after his crewmates deserted and his commander threatened to shoot him.
“For a few weeks in the National Police have identified the phones used by Russians. On these phones, we regularly send SMS about how to surrender and hand over the equipment. A few days ago, Misha called us. We handed over the information about him to the GUR MO [Ukrainian military intelligence]. He didn’t see the point of war. Misha said that there was almost no food left, military management is chaotic and practically absent. Demoralization is colossal. The Russians are giving up!” Ukrainian Minister of Internal Affairs Victor Andrusiv said Misha had called Ukraine’s national police on his personal phone and negotiated his surrender, which occurred in an open farm field at an unspecified place and time. Misha will spend the remainder of the war as a prisoner in “comfortable conditions with a TV, phone, kitchen and shower,” said Andrusiv.
Tanks are on the lowest tier of the Ukraine’s surrender rewards program at $10,000. Combat helicopters and fighter jets fetch a higher price at $500,000 and $1,000,000 each, respectively.