A Turkmen national fighting for Russia in the Ukraine war surrendered to a Ukrainian Armed Forces drone by waving a white flag at it, Ukraine’s Luhansk Border Department said in a video report posted on YouTube.

The captured man was named as 45-year-old Maksat Meredov.

The video report tells how the drone operator from the Ukrainian Pomsta (“Revenge”) brigade and other military personnel were conducting reconnaissance using a thermal imager. They detected Meredov, tracking his movements to a hiding place. The location was targeted and destroyed, with Meredov then appearing, waving a white object, the report said.

The flashing lights of the drone were activated and it was manoeuvred in such a way as to indicate the direction Meredov should follow, it added.

The cold and exhausted Meredov is shown stopping and attempting to eat snow. Ukrainian troops told how they used the drone to drop water, a note and later a hot water bottle to him.

Meredov later stated: “I recently came to Russia to earn money for myself and my family. The contract was signed on November 14, 2025.”

Radio Azatlyk reported that the videoed surrender of the Turkmen soldier has caused a huge reaction in Turkmen society.