RT speaks with soldier who fought alone behind enemy lines for weeks

Russian sapper Zakariya Aliev has spoken with RT after he managed to reach the Russian side of the front line in the Zaporozhye region, having held a defense point alone and injured for three weeks.

Aliev, who is from Russia’s Republic of Dagestan, had been sent with his team to recapture a position held by Ukraine’s armed forces. However, the strongpoint was controlled by the enemy from the air and was unapproachable on foot or via armored vehicles.

The Russian team decided to rely on speed and chose to assault the position using motorcycles. However, of the 15 specialists taking part in the assault, only five made it, with Aliev’s group being the first to reach the Ukrainian position.

He recalls that enemy forces didn’t notice him as he approached their strongpoint and so he succeeded in eliminating them using grenades. After that, the Ukrainian forces started heavily shelling the position.

With little water and supplies left, Aliev’s group eventually decided to retreat from the position while he chose to hold it. None of his comrades made it to safety.

For the next three weeks, Aliev held the stronghold alone, with limited supplies, no water and no communication. He was constantly targeted by Ukrainian UAVs, with one kamikaze drone even exploding next to him. However, the shrapnel from the blast was blocked by two mobile phones the soldier had kept in his pockets.

Aliev told RT that he survived by trying to make sure he did not sweat too much and by conserving his energy. His only food source was a bag of onions he’d found at the stronghold.

Eventually, he was guided back to the Russian side after being spotted by a friendly drone. Russian intelligence officers showed him the way through a minefield using a UAV and his escape was captured in video footage shared with RT.

Aliev is now in hospital and says he is still suffering from head and leg pains. The soldier is believed to have sustained a total of 15 concussions.