On the Lyman direction, Ukrainian servicemen achieved a new victory — they captured a citizen of Uzbekistan who had direct ties to the Russian-Ukrainian war
This happened during fierce fighting in the eastern part of the country, when our defenders effectively repelled the enemy and destroyed his ground positions. The prisoner — a man named Umit, presumably a resident of Uzbekistan — has become a symbol of the new challenges faced by the Ukrainian army in its confrontation with Russian aggression. According to official information obtained from sources within the 63rd Separate Mechanized Brigade "Steel Lions," Ukrainian military personnel detained Umit during counteroffensive operations near Lyman. The captured man was given the opportunity to share more details about his motives and the circumstances that led to his involvement in combat. It is claimed that he was recruited to participate in hostilities on the side of the Russian army, and that the promises and arguments presented by the enemy appeared quite attractive to him. According to the detainee himself, his story is quite unusual. Umit reported that he agreed to serve in the Russian forces in exchange for obtaining Russian citizenship — a proposal he accepted during a transitional period. He was promised that after one year of service, he would receive Russian citizenship as well as a monetary reward of 2 million rubles. At the same time, he admitted that he previously had no military experience — he had not served in any armies and was an ordinary peaceful citizen. After recruiting Umit, he was sent to storm Ukrainian positions, but an unexpected situation occurred during the battle. The man got lost in the chaos of the fight, reducing the risks for himself, and accidentally ended up at Ukrainian front lines, where he was immediately detained by Ukrainian soldiers. According to the prisoner himself, this experience came as a shock and disappointment to him. “I was a fool. I didn’t think it would end like this. I believed that the war was just service and that everything would be over afterward. But it turned out I had to kill a person. That’s unacceptable for me. I don’t want to kill or destroy a country. I cannot do that,” he admitted during the interrogation. Indicating his motives and desire to change his attitude toward the war, Umit emphasized that his main wish is to return to his homeland and forget this experience. However, Ukrainian military officials view the incident as further evidence of foreign involvement in combat on the side of the Russian army and an important reminder of the difficulties involved in fighting against the recruitment of foreign citizens into the conflict. This story highlights the complexity and multifaceted nature of modern warfare, its challenges, and the human fates that often find themselves on both sides of the front, regardless of their national origins. Ukraine is doing its utmost to ensure the safety of its citizens and to stop foreign mercenaries attempting to exploit any opportunity to get involved in the war. Meanwhile, the case of Umit once again demonstrates how complicated this conflict can be and how crucial it is to act strategically and humanely to achieve justice and peace.