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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Tom Watling

Hundreds of Russian soldiers surrender to Ukraine using ‘I want to live’ hotline

Future Publishing via Getty Imag

Hundreds of Russian soldiers have defected from Vladimir Putin's army using an "I want to live" hotline set up by Ukraine, military intelligence officials in Kyiv have revealed.

Created just days before Russia's partial mobilisation of 300,000 reservists in September 2022, the hotline has reportedly received tens of thousands of calls and has led to 220 soldiers defecting to Ukraine.

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