At the beginning of the full-scale Russian attack on Ukraine, the Main directorate of intelligence of Ukraine launched a social program for Russian soldiers who do not want to fight against the Ukrainians — I want to live. Thanks to this program, every soldier can surrender and receive not only the protection of Ukraine but life, the opportunity to return home under the prisoner exchange program and see their children again.
As of February 2021, 24.000 Russians applied to I want to live. Many of them do not want to return to Russia.
"We already have those (Russian soldiers — ed.) who were captured several times. These are such fort characters, such a humane Ukrainian army, it's true," the representative of the MID Andriy Yusov.
Specialised POW camp in Ukraine not only differ from the Russian POW camp in Olenivka but comply with all the requirements of the Geneva Convention. Here, Russian prisoners have a meal 3 times per day, have access to a library, a sports ground, a swimming pool and even a small lake with carps. It is worth noting that, thanks to the Russian war, thousands of Ukrainians no longer have such living conditions. In addition, representatives of the Red Cross and the media regularly visit this camp.
