Wagner prisoner switches sides to Russian rebels as Prigozhin vows to 'find and kill' him
The captured Russian soldier has turned down freedom during a prisoner exchange and instead opted to join a pro-Ukrainian volunteer unit.
Prisoners of war offered to join RDK
Anti-Putin rebels fighting with Ukraine under the banner of the Russian Volunteer Corp have announced a captured soldier, who had previously served as a combatant inside the Wagner Private Military Group (PMC), has declined a prisoners of war swap and instead opted to join the RVC.
At the POW exchange event, Denis Nikitin, the commander of the Russian Volunteer Cops (RDK), was present as Russian soldiers were presented with the choice to join the RDK.
Among them was Vladislav Izmailov and rather than returning to Russia, Izmailov opted to express his desire to become a member of the RDK.
In a statement released on Telegram, the RDK announced: "Denis WhiteRex, the commander of the RDK, was present today at the prisoner exchange procedure. All soldiers were offered the opportunity to voluntarily join the ranks of the Russian Volunteer Corps.
One of the prisoners, Vladyslav Izmailov, who previously fought in the ranks of the Wagner PMC, refused to be exchanged and expressed a desire to become a fighter of the RDK. After appropriate checks, we will be happy to give Vlad the opportunity to fight in our ranks."
Wagner boss Evgeniy Prigozhin appears to have confirmed the identity of the Russian fighter and made a chilling pledge to "find and kill" him.
Sharing footage of Nikitin speaking to the Russian POWs, the @wartranslated Twitter account added that Prigozhin has reacted with a statement saying: "Actually, Vladislav Izmailov arrived to the PMC Wagner from a Samara colony, and in November he was captured.
"Vladislav Izmailov is a traitor, and I'm sure he will receive a worthy punishment according to all traditions of PMC Wagner.
"I hope we will find and kill him in a fair fight."
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Additionally, the RDK stated that they had handed over the prisoners captured during the clashes near Novaya Tavolzhanka in the Belgorod Oblast to the Russian authorities.
Writing on Telegram the group said: "The RDK keeps its word given to the Russian soldiers who laid down their arms in the battles near Novaya Tavolzhanka!
"After providing proper medical care, the fighters were handed over to the Russian side at the border of Sumy and Belgorod oblasts."
On Monday, Ukrainian military officials announced that their troops have successfully recaptured another village in the south-eastern region from Russian forces.
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These small victories mark some of the first gains in their intensified counter-offensive operations against Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which has lasted for over 15 months.
Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar shared on Telegram that the Ukrainian flag was once again flying over the village of Storozhov, expressing confidence that the ultimate outcome would be the liberation of "all Ukrainian land".
The day before, Ukrainian officials had reported the liberation of three other nearby villages situated south of the town of Velika Novosilke in the eastern Donetsk region.
Russian authorities, meanwhile, have said their troops have largely held their ground along the more than 1,000-kilometre (600-mile) arc of the frontline along southern and eastern Ukraine.