A Member Of The Russian GRU's Spetsnaz Refused To Take Part In A "human Wave" Assault And Surrendered To The Ukrainian Armed Forces

• 8.09.2026, 17:32

The elite of the Russian forces have become expendable.

A Russian servicemember from a special operations unit of the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation (formerly known as the GRU) voluntarily laid down his arms and surrendered to Ukraine. This was reported by the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, citing the project “I Want to Live”.

The soldier from the GRU special forces unit decided to surrender after his group was sent to storm a Ukrainian town, where 70% of the unit was killed. Seeing how the “elite” of the Russian Armed Forces were being sent on suicide assaults, he concluded that he’d had enough.

According to him, the command is effectively sending even special forces soldiers into attacks as “disposable” infantry:

“When I saw the settlement for which so many people had died, I realized that it was impractical and completely pointless. It’s more like some kind of covert genocide of the male population.”

The soldier also stated that he did not want to remain part of an army that deprives people of their homes. He was left with three options: deserting his unit, being killed, or being taken prisoner. On TikTok, he found the chatbot for the “I Want to Live” project and contacted its representatives.

The former GRU special forces soldier is now safe as a prisoner of war under the protection of the Geneva Conventions. The “I Want to Live” project has called on other Russian servicemen who have come to realize what is happening to take advantage of the opportunity to surrender.