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The Russian recruit who died before reaching the front line

A mother’s story: “My son hadn’t been fed properly, hadn’t been given a uniform.”

A mother in Siberia tells us how her son died at a training camp in Russia - he had volunteered to fight but never made it to the front line. The 鶹’s Tim Whewell spoke to her and other families in Bratsk whose young men have gone to war.

Ukraine has opened a “surrender hotline” for Russian soldiers to call. Our correspondent in Dnipro, James Waterhouse, has been talking to the people who run it.

Also, we hear from volunteer Olena Budahovska about the people she’s been delivering food to in recently liberated areas of Ukraine.

Today’s episode is presented by Victoria Derbyshire and Vitaliy Shevchenko.

The producers were Arsenii Sokolov, Clare Williamson and Luke Radcliff. The technical coordinator was Emma Crowe. The series producer is Fiona Leach. The assistant editor is Alison Gee and the editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

Email Ukrainecast@bbc.co.uk with your questions and comments. You can also send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp, Signal or Telegram to +44 330 1239480

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34 minutes

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