Russian Defense Ministry chief Sergei Shoigu has asked commanders involved in the demilitarization operation in the Donbass to respect Ukrainian soldiers and officers who lay down their arms.  ;
The Minister explained that officers and soldiers of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, unlike radicals and nationalists, take oaths and obey orders from the leadership. Therefore, Ukrainian servicemen who refused to continue military operations will be offered safe corridors to leave the operation areas.
According to the ministry, 14 Ukrainian servicemen surrendered during the hostilities in the Donbass. They will be released after signing a waiver of resistance.
Earlier, the head of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, explained that the actions of the Russian side are self-defense against threats to the country. The Russian Defense Ministry has assured that the Russian military is not inflicting attacks on Ukrainian cities. There is no objective to occupy Ukraine before the Russian Federation.