The international delegation, headed by Ana Lucía Bueno, ICRC Public Health Coordinator, and Sujit Panda, Head of the Physical Rehabilitation…
On January 23, 2026, near Kostiantynivka, two servicemen of the 5th Battalion of the 112th Separate Territorial Defense Brigade, Ihor Maksymchuk with the call sign “Khmil” and Volodymyr Aleksandrov with the call sign “Pozytyv,” were ambushed by the enemy and taken prisoner.
The story was published on the page of the 112th Territorial Defense Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Ihor Maksymchuk, a junior sergeant and mortar commander, was walking first and was the first to engage in combat. Unfortunately, he sustained a gunshot wound to the chest, while Volodymyr Aleksandrov was wounded in the leg and lost the ability to move independently.
The occupiers dragged both wounded soldiers into a house. Later, after learning that a Ukrainian position was nearby, they dragged “Pozytyv” toward it and forced him to contact the command by radio, ordering him to report that he had been severely wounded by an FPV drone strike and was unable to move.
After that, communication with “Pozytyv” disappeared for two days.
During those days, the battalion’s command planned an evacuation operation and continued dropping supplies and medications, believing both fighters remained wounded at the position.
On January 24, a two-man infantry group arrived in the area to inspect it. Near the shelter, they heard Russian speech and enemy call signs. Realizing the numerical superiority of the enemy, the soldiers avoided contact and withdrew. After that, the battalion launched an FPV-drone strike on the position.
That evening, “Pozytyv” re-established contact. He reported that after the strike, two occupiers fled, two remained wounded, and one of them could not move.
At that moment, “Pozytyv” managed to persuade the two Russian soldiers to surrender and jointly prepare for evacuation.
“For several days, preparations for the operation were underway. We dropped supplies, medications, prepared them, prepared ground robotic systems and the evacuation group, planned the route”, — said the commander of the mortar battery of the 5th Battalion, call sign “Lemur”.
On the night of January 29, the backup ground robotic system “Targan 3k” reached an intermediate point.
In the morning, the main GRS “Lynx Pro” set off along with a four-man evacuation group. The GRS carried a stretcher, warm clothing, food, and medicine in case of complications. It accompanied the group until FPV-drone activity in the air made further movement impossible.
When the GRS arrived at the position, “Pozytyv” and the two captives began their withdrawal. One of the occupiers, who was able to move, helped the wounded soldier and the other captive. During the retreat, the enemy detected the evacuation group. Drones and artillery began striking the GRS and the area.
As a result of a direct hit on the GRS, one of the Russian prisoners was killed. “Pozytyv” and the second captive managed to jump out and hide in a nearby building. Later, an artillery strike destroyed the building, burying both in the basement.
The evacuation group, which was also being shelled, dispersed into different buildings. Only the next day were they able to regroup.
On January 30, the operation was suspended due to weather conditions favorable for enemy drones.
On January 31, taking advantage of the fog, two infantrymen headed to “Pozytyv” to dig them out. Using the backup GRS “Targan 3k”, the soldiers managed to reach the wounded, load them up, and transport them to a relatively safe area, where they were picked up by medevac.
Volodymyr Aleksandrov, call sign “Pozytyv”, underwent surgery. He suffered a shattered pelvic bone and a damaged joint, but his condition is stable. The brigade’s command is preparing to nominate him for a state award.
The captured Russian was fed and handed over for further interrogation.
The entire operation was made possible thanks to the coordinated work of a large team from the 5th Battalion of the 112th Separate Territorial Defense Brigade—over 30 people: UAV operators, GRS operators with the call signs “Krava”, “Ben”, “Terminator”, medics, technicians, scouts from the 3rd Battalion of the 112th Brigade, the evacuation group with the call signs “Minion”, “Barber”, “Johny”, “Azimuth”, and those responsible for planning the mission: the mortar platoon commander with the call sign “Fara” and the mortar battery commander with the call sign “Lemur”.
“Unfortunately, the fate of Ihor Maksymchuk, call sign ‘Khmil’, remains unknown. He advanced from infantryman to mortar commander, carried out tasks with dignity and honor, and was awarded the Order ‘For Courage’ III Class. We believe we will be able to bring him home”, — the brigade noted.
