World · Europe · 11 hrs ago
Russian commander says Ukrainian troops surrendered in Annopolye
A Russian platoon commander said Ukrainian troops in Annopolye surrendered after his unit fired several Shmel rockets.
Annopolye is in Ukraine’s Kharkov Region.
The commander said the platoon supports assault troops by firing before they move in.
Russia announced on October 8 that its forces had taken the settlement.
The Russian Defense Ministry said the operation also involved artillery, drones and small assault teams.
It said those units struck Ukrainian positions and disrupted the defenders.
The account of the surrender comes from the Russian commander, and no further developments are given.
A Russian commander said Ukrainian troops in Annopolye surrendered after Russian forces fired several rounds from a Shmel flamethrower.
The commander, identified by the call sign Gyugo, said the Russian assault troops then took the position with virtually no fighting.
Russia announced on October 8 that its forces had liberated Annopolye in the Kharkov Region.
The account was published by TASS on October 12 and was attributed to a video released by Russia’s Defense Ministry.
- Who
- Ukrainian troops and Russia’s Battlegroup North, according to a Russian commander identified by the call sign Gyugo.
- What
- Gyugo said Ukrainian troops surrendered after a Russian flamethrower platoon fired several Shmel rounds.
- When
- Russia announced Annopolye’s liberation on October 8; TASS published Gyugo’s account on October 12, 2026.
- Where
- Annopolye, Kharkov Region.
- Why
- Gyugo said the troops surrendered after the flamethrower platoon fired two or three rounds.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Russia announced that its forces had liberated Annopolye in the Kharkov Region.
TASS published Gyugo’s account of Ukrainian troops surrendering after the flamethrower platoon fired several rounds.
- Location
- Annopolye, Kharkov Region
- Russian unit
- Battlegroup North
- Weapon
- Shmel rocket-propelled anti-personnel flamethrower (RPO)
- Call sign
- Gyugo
- Announcement date
- October 8
What people are saying
If the enemy keeps firing back until their very last round and our flamethrower platoon fires two or three RPO rounds, commonly known as Shmel, they surrender almost immediately, and the position is taken with virtually no fighting
I like being a flamethrower operator because it’s powerful, and because it offers considerable help and support to the guys, mainly the assault troops.
Sources
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