Vadym Lietunov returns from captivity with surrendered Russian soldier
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · May 3
Vadym Lietunov returns from captivity with surrendered Russian soldier
5 articles · Updated · The Guardian · May 3
The 34-year-old corporal from Odesa survived two weeks underground after a drone strike killed comrade Sasha, before his 118th Brigade recovered both men near the front.
Lietunov said he persuaded Nikita, a Russian convict-turned-soldier, to surrender as Ukrainian drones first mistook them for enemy troops and nearly attacked.
Now on crutches after losing a toe, Lietunov has reunited with his family, while Nikita was taken by Ukraine's SBU and may be exchanged for Ukrainian prisoners.
How did Lietunov's psychological tactics and the dire conditions on both sides lead to the rare surrender of a Russian captor to his Ukrainian prisoner?
What does this story reveal about the contrast in POW treatment and internal discipline between Ukrainian and Russian forces in 2026?
Could the increasing use of cheap drones and psychological warfare reshape the rules and ethics of frontline survival in modern conflicts?
Survival and Rescue: The Harrowing Ordeal of Vadym Lietunov from Russian Captivity to Rehabilitation
Overview
In late February 2026, Vadym Lietunov was severely injured during a Russian drone attack near Zaporizhzhia and captured by Nikita, a coerced Russian convict soldier. Enduring two weeks of harsh captivity marked by cold, hunger, and untreated injury that caused gangrene, Lietunov used psychological tactics to survive. In early March, Ukrainian reconnaissance and strike drones forced the Russian guard to flee, enabling Lietunov and Nikita to escape. Nikita surrendered and became a valuable asset for prisoner exchanges. Lietunov’s gangrene led to a toe amputation, followed by rehabilitation and reunion with his family. Their story highlights the brutal realities of war, forced conscription, and the complex human dynamics in captivity and rescue.