Russian Defense Ministry reports capture of drafted soldiers in Ukraine

MOSCOW. March 9 (Interfax) - A number of drafted Russian soldiers have been captured in the special operation in Ukraine, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said.

"Unfortunately, several facts regarding the presence of drafted service members from the Russian Armed Forces units involved in the special military operation in Ukraine have been uncovered. Almost all of these service members have already been taken back to Russian territory," Konashenkov said at a press briefing on Wednesday.

"At the same time, a sabotage group from a [Ukrainian] nationalistic battalion attacked one of the units performing logistical support functions. A number of service members, including draftees, were captured," he said.

"Exhaustive measures are being taken to rule out the sending of drafted service members to combat zones and to have the captured service members freed," Konashenkov said.