Russian officer captured by Ukrainians talks about positions of Russian troops and their morale 

A 14-minute conversation was posted on Telegram on Sunday, August 13, 2023. 

It is noted that they mentioned various topics including losses, Russia's future in the war, local attitudes in the Kherson region towards the Russian occupiers, "Ukrainian Nazis," and Tomov’s previous service at a nuclear ammunition storage base.

The major downplays his unit's training and mentions there are numerous defectors in his battalion.

According to the post, Ukrainian fighters captured Tomov on the left bank of the Kherson region. This area was previously reported as a site of a sabotage mission carried out from the controlled right bank. There's another version that claims the Armed Forces managed to secure a foothold in the village of Kozachi Laheri.

In the video's 9th minute, Tomov is asked about his thoughts on Russian troops attacking Ukrainian civilians.

"Why do you kill people, especially when you know you'll lose?" Tomov is questioned.

Initially, the major finds it hard to answer, then he says:

"It's an immense pain and confusion caused by the senseless fanatic policy of Russian President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin. I don't understand how it happened that people's worldview turned 180 degrees, and people who dreamed of a peaceful life started killing their own kind. They fight for ideas and ideals that have no connection to reality."

On August 13, a 24-second clip featuring Major Tomov was shared on the Russian military channel Gray Zone. The channel was formerly linked to the Wagner PMC. Tomov was showing Russian positions on the left bank of the Dnipro in the Kherson region to individuals who spoke Ukrainian. The footage is dated August 9.

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• In May 2023, the Ukrainian military reported that 40% of Russian captives they interviewed claimed they surrendered willingly.