Vladimir Putin’s loyal soldiers have been abandoned and left to starve on a remote island, Ukrainian officials revealed. Thousands of troops, isolated from other Russian forces, are reportedly trapped in a dangerous area along the Dnipro River in southern Kherson, functioning as a frontline battleground since November 2022.
Ukraine controls the right bank of the river, while the left side remains under Russian jurisdiction. The troops loyal to Putin face constant threats from enemy forces, lacking adequate cover during drone attacks.
Ukrainian officials disclosed that approximately 5,100 Russian soldiers have perished on the island since January, with limited access to essential provisions. Disturbing footage captured soldiers camouflaging themselves with vegetation to evade drone strikes.
In a harrowing scene, a group of soldiers crowded into a small boat in an attempt to escape the bombardments. Colonel Oleksandr Zavtonov from Ukraine’s 30th Marine Corps described the area as a perilous zone for Russian troops, with nowhere to seek refuge.
Reports from Ukrainian sources indicated that the stranded soldiers face severe challenges with food and water shortages. Oksana Kuzan, head of the analytical department at the Ukrainian Security and Cooperation Centre, emphasized the dire conditions, highlighting the troops’ struggles with supplies, ammunition, and rotations.
President Zelensky expressed optimism following a US-brokered ceasefire proposal aimed at resolving the conflict, urging Donald Trump to exert pressure on Russia using various means such as sanctions, diplomacy, and military actions to halt Putin’s aggression.
Leaders from Ukraine, the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Poland, Norway, Finland, Denmark, the European Commission, and European Council jointly called for peace, advocating for an immediate cessation of hostilities and negotiations based on the current contact line. They reaffirmed the principle that international borders should not be altered through coercion or force.