Ukraine has taken 1,000 of Putin's soldiers prisoner, President Zelensky reveals - as Russian captives plead 'we didn't want to go to war' and are made to say 'Putin is a d**khead' after surrendering

 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky today revealed that Ukraine has captured almost 1,000 Russian prisoners of war in less than three weeks since the invasion began on February 24.

Zelensky made the declaration during a conference call with International Criminal Court prosecutor Karim Khan, one of the world's leading authorities on international human rights law who earlier this month opened an investigation into the war in Ukraine.

The Ukrainian leader told Khan: 'We have already almost 1,000 prisoners and their video testimonies,' before adding that he is looking forward to working with the ICC to ensure that 'those who invaded our territory for nothing are punished'.

Zelensky's revelation comes as footage emerged of a group six Russian soldiers calling President Vladimir Putin a 'd**khead' on the orders of their Ukrainian captors and declaring they did not want to go to war after surrendering south of Chernihiv.

The group, lead by Major Viktor Blyudin, was a reconnaissance team located in the forest near to the town of Sribne in the southern part of Chernihiv oblast. 

They surrendered on March 14 to civilians in Sribne after learning that a neighbouring Russian cohort was killed, according to Sribnyanshchyna newspaper which posted a video of the soldiers on Facebook

In the video, several of the soldiers can be heard repeating after their Ukrainian captors: 'Putin is a d**khead', before asking the people of Ukraine for forgiveness and telling their family and friends that they are being treated well.  

Russian forces have already incurred heavy losses as their invasion nears its third week, with the Ukrainian army and territorial defence forces putting up a bitter fight to repel the invaders. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky today revealed that Ukraine has captured almost 1,000 Russian prisoners of war in less than three weeks since the invasion began on February 24

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky today revealed that Ukraine has captured almost 1,000 Russian prisoners of war in less than three weeks since the invasion began on February 24

Zelensky made the declaration during a conference call with International Criminal Court prosecutor Karim Khan (pictured), one of the world's leading authorities on international human rights law who earlier this month opened an investigation into the war in Ukraine

Zelensky made the declaration during a conference call with International Criminal Court prosecutor Karim Khan (pictured), one of the world's leading authorities on international human rights law who earlier this month opened an investigation into the war in Ukraine

The group, lead by Major Viktor Blyudin, was a reconnaissance team located in the forest near to the town of Sribne in the southern part of Chernihiv oblast

The group, lead by Major Viktor Blyudin, was a reconnaissance team located in the forest near to the town of Sribne in the southern part of Chernihiv oblast

They surrendered on March 14 to civilians in Sribne after learning that a neighbouring Russian cohort was killed, according to Sribnyanshchyna newspaper which posted a video of the soldiers on Facebook

They surrendered on March 14 to civilians in Sribne after learning that a neighbouring Russian cohort was killed, according to Sribnyanshchyna newspaper which posted a video of the soldiers on Facebook

One soldier, wearing hooded fatigues and a black hat, said: I really love [my wife] and I hope that she will forgive me for coming here,' before labelling Putin and the Russian government as 'scumbags'

One soldier, wearing hooded fatigues and a black hat, said: I really love [my wife] and I hope that she will forgive me for coming here,' before labelling Putin and the Russian government as 'scumbags'

Another, who gave his name as Anton Nikulkov, told his family and kids: 'Don't worry, I'm fine, everything's going to be okay. Putin is a d**khead!,' the soldier exclaimed, before repeating after the Ukrainian cameraman: 'Glory to Ukraine. Death to Russia'

Another, who gave his name as Anton Nikulkov, told his family and kids: 'Don't worry, I'm fine, everything's going to be okay. Putin is a d**khead!,' the soldier exclaimed, before repeating after the Ukrainian cameraman: 'Glory to Ukraine. Death to Russia'One soldier, wearing hooded fatigues and a black hat, said: I really love [my wife] and I hope that she will forgive me for coming here,' before labelling Putin and the Russian government as 'scumbags.'

Another, who gave his name as Anton Nikulkov, told his family and kids: 'Don't worry, I'm fine, everything's going to be okay.'

'Putin is a d**head,' he said, and the Ukrainian cameraman told him to repeat it louder.

'Putin is a d**khead!,' the soldier exclaimed, before repeating after the Ukrainian cameraman: 'Glory to Ukraine. Death to Russia.' 

Soldier Dmitry Kamyanikov seemed to express genuine remorse when asked what he'd like to tell the people of Ukraine.

'I stand in front of them guilty, I didn't want to go to war here. I haven't killed anybody, I swear. I'm asking for your forgiveness for coming here,' Kamyanikov said.

He then told his Russian colleagues: 'Resign from your army posts and get out of here.' 

Major Blyudin, the leader of the group, appeared far more reluctant to respond to questioning, but ultimately joined his subordinates in announcing 'Putin is a d**khead'.

The soldiers insisted they were in Sribne 'to learn and observe' and promised they had not fired on any Ukrainians, though Sribnyanshchyna newspaper speculated this may have been a tactic to avoid being punished or killed.

Ukraine's army has released a variety of videos showing Russian prisoners of war (POWs) captured in fighting across the nation, taking the opportunity to show mercy to their invaders while encouraging them to denounce the war, and criticise Putin and their military leaders.

Many of the Russian POWs have been permitted to call their families, provided they tell them what they have done and admit that they are taking part in an invasion, as opposed to a 'special military operation' as it is described in Russian media. 

On March 14, six Russian servicemen, led by Major Viktor Blyudin, laid down their arms in Sribne. Three members of the cohort are pictured blindfolded

On March 14, six Russian servicemen, led by Major Viktor Blyudin, laid down their arms in Sribne. Three members of the cohort are pictured blindfolded

Soldier Dmitry Kamyanikov seemed to express genuine remorse when asked what he'd like to tell the people of Ukraine. 'I stand in front of them guilty, I didn't want to go to war here. I haven't killed anybody, I swear. I'm asking for your forgiveness for coming here,' Kamyanikov said

Soldier Dmitry Kamyanikov seemed to express genuine remorse when asked what he'd like to tell the people of Ukraine. 'I stand in front of them guilty, I didn't want to go to war here. I haven't killed anybody, I swear. I'm asking for your forgiveness for coming here,' Kamyanikov said

The passports of the Russian soldiers who surrendered in Sribne are pictured

The passports of the Russian soldiers who surrendered in Sribne are pictured

Kyiv meanwhile announced last night that Russia has lost another of its generals along with seven members of an elite force under Vladimir Putin's direct command in recent fighting. 

Major-General Oleg Mityaev, 47, commander of the army's 150th motorised rifle division, died fighting around the besieged city of Mariupol, Ukraine's interior ministry said late Tuesday as officials released a photo of what they claimed was his corpse on the battlefield.

It marks the fourth Russian general that Ukraine claims to have taken out and the 13th officer overall, as Putin's invading forces suffer heavy losses at the hands of dogged Ukrainian defenders.

Seven elite SWAT fighters from the feared Dzerzhinsky Division of Russia's national guard were also revealed to have died in the fighting. 

A mourning picture was released in Russia showing the photographs of six elite 'maroon beret' special forces fighters from the Vityaz Special Purpose Centre of the Dzerzhinsky Division, named after Soviet secret police founder Felix Dzerzhinsky. It was later revealed that a seventh had also been killed. 

Meanwhile respected test pilot Captain Alexander Garnaev quit a number of positions over the 'completely incomprehensible' war. 'Sooner or later society will know the final number of losses [and] be horrified,' he added.

A Hero of Russia and Honoured Test Pilot, he launched a scathing attack on the way Ukrainian cities have been 'bombed and crushed with tanks'.

Major-General Oleg Mityaev
Major-General Oleg Mityaev

Major-General Oleg Mityaev, 47 (left and right), has been killed by Ukrainian troops near Mariupol - Kyiv has said - marking the fourth Russian general they claim to have killed in three weeks of fighting 

Seven members of an elite SWAT unit under the direct command of Vladimir Putin were revealed to have died fighting in Ukraine, with pictures of six of them arranged at a funeral service back in Russia (above)

Seven members of an elite SWAT unit under the direct command of Vladimir Putin were revealed to have died fighting in Ukraine, with pictures of six of them arranged at a funeral service back in Russia (above)

Russia's war casualties 

Major General Andrei Kolesnikov: Commander of the 29th Combined Army Army

Major General Vitaly Gerasimov: First deputy commander of Russia's 41st army who took part in operations in Syria and Crimea

Major General Andrei Sukhovetsky: Deputy commander of the 41st Combined Arms Army of the Central Military District killed during a special operation by a sniper

Major General Andrei Kolesnikov of the 29th Combined Arms Army was killed last week in another blow to the Kremlin

Major General Andrei Kolesnikov of the 29th Combined Arms Army was killed last week in another blow to the Kremlin

Major General Vitaly Gerasimov was killed last week and was the first deputy commander of Russia's 41st army
Major General Andrei Sukhovetsky, 47, deputy commander of the 41st Combined Arms Army of the Central Military District, was killed in Ukraine

Major General Vitaly Gerasimov (left) was killed last week and was  the first deputy commander of Russia's 41st army. Major General Andrei Sukhovetsky (Right), 47, deputy commander of the 41st Combined Arms Army of the Central Military District, was also killed in Ukraine 

Colonel Andrei Zakharov: Killed in a Ukrainian ambush near Kyiv

Lieutenant Colonel Dmitry Safronov: Leader of marine brigade killed after Ukrainian forces recaptured Chernihiv

Lieutenant Colonel Denis Glebov: Leader of air assault troops killed in Chernihiv

Colonel Konstantin Zizevsky: Leader of air assault troops killed in the south of Ukraine

Lieutenant Colonel Denis Glebov
Lieutenant Colonel Dmitry Safronov

Lieutenant Colonel Denis Glebov (left) and Lieutenant Colonel Dmitry Safronov (right) died in a battle in Chuhuiv and 

Colonel Konstantin Zizevsky, who led air assault troops died in the south of Ukraine
It is not clear exactly when Glushchak (pictured) died, though it is thought to be in early stages of the fighting

Colonel Konstantin Zizevsky (left), who led air assault troops died in the south of Ukraine and Captain Alexey Glushchak (right), of the GRU intelligence service, who died fighting near Mariupol

Colonel Andrei Zakharov (pictured right with Vladimir Putin) was killed in an ambush near Kyiv in the opening days of the war
Chechen general Magomed Tushaev was one of 56 highly-feared elite soldiers blown up by Ukraine after they joined the Russian invasion with their sights set on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky

Colonel Andrei Zakharov (left) was killed in an ambush near Kyiv in the opening days of the war, while Chechen general Magomed Tushaev (right) was reported killed in an ambush on an armoured column 

General Magomed Tushaev: Chechen special forces leader killed in an ambush near Hostomel

Vladimir Zhonga: Leader of neo-Nazi Sparta Battalion backed by the Kremlin

Georgy Dudorov: Deputy commander of the reconnaissance company for the 137th regiment of the 106th Tula Guards Airborne Division

Aleksey Aleshko: Paratroop intelligence officer that was a graduate of the prestigious Ryazan Guards Higher Airborne School

Georgy Dudorov
Aleksey Aleshko

Georgy Dudorov (left), deputy commander of an airborne reconnaissance division, and Aleksey Aleshko (right), a paratroop intelligence officer, have also been killed

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