Ukraine offers Russian soldiers $40,000 and an amnesty if they drop their weapons and surrender

UKRAINE is offering Russian soldiers $40,000 each to lay down their arms and surrender under an ambitious plan funded by the international IT industry aimed at ending the ongoing spat between the two countries.

Over the last week, the hostilities between the Ukraine and Russia over membership of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) have broken out into fullscale war. Russia opposes Ukraine's plans to join Nato, fearing that it would jeopardise its security, leading President Vladimir Putin to declare war on his neighbour.

Reeling from the effects of the Russian invasion, Ukraine is offering Russian soldiers money and the promise of immunity from punishment if they surrender. Oleksii Resnikov, Ukraine's defence minister, said each soldier was being offered the equivalent of more than $40,000 in a campaign being financed by the international IT industry.

Mr Resnikov said: “Make your decision. Come out without weapon, with a white flag.

“Anyone who refuses to be an occupationist will bring peace. For those who choose the path of the occupationist there will be no mercy."

According to Ukrainian sources, at least 200 Russian soldiers have been captured so far. In interrogation videos, many have said they believed they were taking part in a manoeuvre but were actually sent to fight in Ukraine.

Russia attacked Ukraine on February 24, without declaring war and according to the UN, more than 400 civilians have already been killed. Russia's army had already fired at least 113 ballistic missiles at Ukraine, according to Ukrainian sources but Moscow vehemently denies attacking civilians.

According to the defence ministry in Kiev, more than 5,700 Russian soldiers had been killed but again, these figures cannot be independently verified. Meanwhile, Ukraine listed some 29 aircraft, 29 helicopters and 198 tanks among allegedly destroyed Russian military equipment.