Maksat Meredov, a citizen of Turkmenistan who had been fighting on the Russian side in Ukraine, surrendered to the Ukrainian Armed Forces by signaling a drone with a white flag. The drone operator guided him toward Ukrainian positions.
According to the drone operator from the Ukrainian Pomsta (“Revenge”) brigade, military personnel were conducting reconnaissance using a thermal imager when they detected Meredov. After tracking his movements to a hiding place, the area was targeted and destroyed. Meredov then emerged, waving a white object. Recognizing it as a surrender gesture, Ukrainian forces ceased fire.
The drone activated its flashing lights and maneuvered to indicate the direction Meredov should follow. Footage showed him cold and exhausted, stopping frequently and attempting to eat snow. In response, Ukrainian troops dropped water, a note, and later a hot water bottle to him via drone.
During a filmed interrogation, the captive identified himself as Maksat Dovletmuradovich Meredov, born on March 24, 1980, and a citizen of Turkmenistan.
“I recently came to Russia to earn money for myself and my family. The contract was signed on November 14, 2025,” Meredov stated.
The video also displayed his documents. According to his passport, Meredov was born in the village of Akmeidan in Karakum district, Mary province, one of the most disadvantaged regions of Turkmenistan, known for persistent water shortages. After the rerouting of the Karakum Canal, reports indicated that some settlements in the region experienced flooding and livestock deaths, while others faced dried irrigation channels, forcing residents to drink from puddles.
A Russian-issued document confirmed his identity and showed that Meredov arrived in Russia in June 2025 for work in the Krasnoyarsk territory before moving to the Vladimir region. He later signed a one-year contract with military unit 11097, based in the city of Voronezh.
Similar incidents involving Turkmen nationals have been reported. In 2024, a mercenary from the town of Turkmenbashi fought in Ukraine for six months. His family used his earnings to purchase an apartment but later had to sell the property to pay a bribe to close a criminal case against him.
