On Tuesday, the Pentagon said the advancement of Russian troops on Ukraine’s capital of Kyiv had “stalled.” Reports also indicated some of the young Russian soldiers were not even aware that they were being sent into a combat zone, with rumors that “several” of them were surrendering.

On Wednesday, The Sun reported that “footage is emerging of captured Russian soldiers crying as they claim they had no idea what to expect in Ukraine.” Recordings were obtained by British intelligence company ShadowBreak.

On one recording a soldier sounds like he is crying. On another, a soldier is heard shouting “we’ve been here for three days! When the hell is it going to be ready?” A third recording captures the same soldier refusing to use artillery on an area until civilians have left.

ShadowBreak founder Samuel Cardillo stated that some of the recordings are “proof of war crimes” and reveal that the Kremlin ordered Russian troops to fire missiles into urban areas.

Other videos “are believed to show frustrated Russian troops retreating” reports The Sun. One soldier allegedly texted his mother “The only thing I want right now is to kill myself.” The New York Times reported on severely desperate scenarios such as soldiers who “deliberately punched holes” in their vehicles’ petrol tanks” to avoid combat.

The Sun also notes that Russian troops have been shocked and surprised at the backlash from “ordinary Ukrainians” to their invasion. Some Russians reportedly expected to be received and welcomed as “liberators.”

Some stories have emerged of “weeping prisoners of war” on the Russian side lamenting that they were sent as “cannon fodder” not knowing they were sent “to attack people defending their country.”

One Russian soldier said, “no one has attacked us and what Russia wants from this war I cannot understand. Mum, Dad, I love you.”