Captured Russian Soldier Calls Putin 'Liar', 'Deceiver Of All Our People'

Several captured Russian troops in Ukraine have urged their people to rise up against their president Vladimir Putin, with one calling him a “liar” and a “deceiver” as the war drags on.

Speaking during a press conference with news agency Interfax-Ukraine on Sunday, Alexei Zheleznyak, a soldier of the 34th separate motorized rifle brigade, slammed Putin for bombing residents and hospitals in the cities of Ukraine. He also accused the Russian president of making “fascists” out of the soldiers.

"Putin, without declaring war, is bombing residents, hospitals, cities of Ukraine," Zheleznyak said during the press conference, as translated by Interfax. "The Ukrainian people are a brave people. They will stop this (Russian) equipment even without weapons. They are united. No matter how much Putin sends his troops here, he will not capture this territory... Our commander-in-chief is a liar and a deceiver of all our people.”

"He deceived not only us, but the whole of Russia. He simply made fascists out of us,” the Russian soldier added.

Mustafaev Mugsad of Russia’s 34th separate motorized rifle brigade also urged his fellow countrymen to ignore state propaganda about the conflict, adding that people would remember the Russian aggression for centuries.

Mugsad went on to apologize for the grief and destruction that the Russian troops caused to the people of Ukraine.

The statements from the captured soldiers come nearly four weeks after Putin first announced the invasion of Ukraine and signify the flagging morale among Russian troops. In fact, the morale is so low among invading soldiers that some reportedly use Ukrainian ammunition to shoot themselves in the leg to avoid fighting, according to a recording of a conversation between soldiers intercepted by NEXTA.

Russian soldiers who attempt to escape the Ukrainian invasion are killed by a “death squad” set up by Putin. Using Ukrainian ammo allows them to make self-inflicted wounds appear like battlefield injuries.

Russia has lost approximately 7,000 soldiers since the beginning of the conflict. It is estimated that 21,000 soldiers have also been wounded. Experts say nearly 20% of Russia’s 150,000 troops are currently out of commission amid the war.