MOSCOW, December 16. /TASS/. Captured Ukrainian soldier Artur Plombirus, previously convicted of robbery, has claimed that his commanders instructed him to wear a Russian military uniform and shoot civilians in Russia’s bordering Kursk Region.

"I approached the Russian positions dressed in a Russian military uniform, pretending to ask for a cigarette and help with jump-starting my car. When those guys got out, I shot them. The commanders told me that if I encountered civilians, I should not speak Ukrainian, but kill them immediately. I shot one, and he fell, but I’m not sure if he was dead," he said in a video released by the Russian Defense Ministry.

Plombirus was conscripted from prison, where he was serving a sentence under Article 186 of the Ukrainian Criminal Code (robbery). "They promised to pay me and clear my record," the Ukrainian soldier explained.

Plombirus also mentioned that he surrendered in the Kursk Region. "We were defeated; they started dropping grenades on us; everyone was wounded, so I surrendered," he said.