Ukraine (The Stellar News) Saksham Kalia: A scheme set up by the Ukraine government under which Russian soldiers can call a hotline or enter details through messenger apps if they want to surrender, is getting about a 100 enquiries a day, the media reported.
According to officials in Kiev, through the “I want To Live” scheme which started in September, Russian troops can choose the best way by either calling on the hotline number or texting on Telegram and whatsapp to surrender to Ukrainian forces.
The officials said that they have had over 3,500 contacts from invading personnel, as well as their families.
Once they surrender, the Russian prisoners of war (POWs) can be used as currency in future exchanges, it added.
According to a Ukrainian call handler, the evenings are the busiest, when troops have more spare time and can sneak off and make a call.
“First of all, we hear a voice, mainly male,” she told the BBC.
“It’s often part-desperate, part-frustrated, because they don’t fully understand how the hotline works, or whether it’s just a set-up. There’s also curiosity because many call not to surrender but to find out how they could if needed. It’s different every time,” she added.
