Ukraine says it will free Russian POWs — if their mothers come to collect them

Ukraine invites the worried mothers of Russian troops captured on the battlefield to come and collect their sons, in an apparent attempt to embarrass Moscow.

“A decision has been taken to hand over captured Russian troops to their mothers if they come to collect them in Ukraine, in Kyiv,” the defense ministry says in a statement.

Kyiv has sought to undermine Russian public support for the invasion by opening a telephone hotline for Russian parents to find out if their sons are among the dead or captured.

The defense ministry has published telephone numbers and and an email address to provide information about captured Russians, and mothers will be invited to Kyiv to collect their missing sons.

“You will be received and taken to Kyiv where your son will be returned to you,” the ministry statement says. “Unlike Putin’s fascists, we Ukrainians are not waging war against mothers and their captured children.”

???????? ???? Ukraine allows captured Russian soldiers to call home. “Another Russian prisoner with tears in his eyes calls his mother in Russia.” pic.twitter.com/31c1JCXtt8

— Venture Capital (@kelly2277) March 1, 2022