Russia Blocks Website Where Soldiers Can Surrender To Ukrainian Army

Representation. A Russian soldier at the port of Berdyansk in southeastern Ukraine.
AFP / Yuri KADOBNOV

KEY POINTS

Ukraine’s Hochu Zhit website translates to “I Want To Live”
The website received over 2,000 surrender requests following Putin’s announcement of partial mobilization
Russian soldiers can also surrender by calling hotlines affiliated to Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense

Russia has banned users nationwide from accessing “Hochu Zhit,” the website of the Ukrainian state project where servicemen can surrender to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Access to the Hochu Zhit website, which translates to “I Want To Live,” was blocked Sunday under the authority of the Russian Prosecutor General’s Office, which is currently headed by President Vladimir Putin‘s ally Igor Krasnov. The ban was first reported by the Russian newspaper Kommersant, citing The Roskomscoboda Project, a non-governmental Russian anti-censorship organization.

“The project was blocked twice… The first time was by a ‘mask’ when access to all domains and subdomains was restricted, the second was just the entire website,” the newspaper reported.

Since Oct. 4, Hochu Zhit has received more than 2,000 requests from Russian soldiers to voluntarily surrender to Ukrainian forces, with the numbers surging following Putin’s announcement of partial mobilization.

The website states that Russian military personnel who surrender to the Armed Forces of Ukraine via the site or by calling affiliated hotlines will be treated fairly by Kyiv’s forces, who promise to adhere to the Geneva Conventions. Additionally, Russian servicemen would also be given three meals per day, legal support and medical attention.

With the website blocked, Russian soldiers or their relatives and friends can still call the 24-hour numbers +38 066 580 34 98; +38 093 119 29 84 to find out more information on surrendering. The hotlines are affiliated with the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.

As of Sept. 24, Russian soldiers who surrender, flee the war, or refuse to obey commands can be sentenced to 10 years in prison, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) reported, citing an amendment signed by Putin.

Russia’s move to block access to Ukraine’s Hochu Zhit website comes as its military death toll reached 65,000 Sunday, according to estimates from the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. In addition to the deaths, the Russian army has also lost a total of 2,529 tanks, 5,193 armored personnel vehicles, 1,589 artillery systems, 1,224 UAVs and 3,959 vehicles and fuel tanks since the war began in February.