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The topic of captivity remains a significant concern in the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia. Recent news highlights various incidents, including the confirmation by the "Skelia" regiment of its fighters being captured in Kostiantynivka. Additionally, a successful operation liberated a Ukrainian soldier from four years of Russian captivity, emphasizing the challenges and efforts in the face of war. Reports reveal alarming mistreatment of prisoners, such as journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna who suffered severe injuries while detained by Russian forces. Furthermore, Ukraine's strategic operations, such as those in the Sumy sector, resulted in the capture of Russian servicemen, illustrating the ongoing complexities of war-related captivity. Overall, the focus on captivity underscores the harsh realities of the conflict and the ongoing endeavors to support those held against their will.

What actions are being taken to support Ukrainian captives?

Efforts to support Ukrainian captives include strategic military operations for their liberation, negotiations for prisoner exchanges, and comprehensive care post-release. Government agencies and international bodies are actively involved in these efforts to ensure the captives' safe return and well-being.

How have Ukrainian forces captured Russian servicemen?

Ukrainian forces have employed strategic military tactics, including sabotage operations and coordinated assaults, to capture Russian servicemen. These efforts are part of broader military strategies to weaken enemy forces and gather intelligence.

What challenges do released captives face upon returning?

Released captives often face numerous challenges, including physical and psychological trauma, reintegration into society, and the need for ongoing medical and mental health support. Programs are in place to assist them in overcoming these hurdles and rebuilding their lives.

How does captivity impact the families of those detained?

Families of captives experience significant stress and emotional strain due to uncertainty about their loved ones' safety and well-being. Support networks aim to provide psychological assistance and legal support to help these families cope with the situation.

What legal actions are taken against war crimes related to captivity?

Legal actions against war crimes related to captivity involve documentation of incidents, gathering of testimonies, and collaboration with international judicial bodies. These efforts aim to hold perpetrators accountable and seek justice for victims of unlawful detention and mistreatment.

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Articles captivity

"Prison guards would say to me during shakedowns, "Khyliuk, why are you so thin?" I weighed about 55 kg. Now I weigh 74," journalist Dmytro Khyliuk, one year after captivity "Prison guards would say to me during shakedowns, "Khyliuk, why are you so thin?" I weighed about 55 kg. Now I weigh 74," journalist Dmytro Khyliuk, one year after captivity When journalist Dmytro Khyliuk was released from Russian captivity in a prisoner exchange in August 2025, and all his colleagues wanted to interview him, Censor.NET decided to wait and speak with Dmytro a year later. We wanted to learn how he had readjusted to life in Ukraine, how he had reconstructed his view of the world after three and a half years in the information vacuum of Russian prisons, and what Ukraine looked like to him in the fifth year of the war. 7 057 3 Previously in trend: Abduction of journalist Dmytro Khyliuk Ukrainian journalists in Russian captivity

Clearing operation and capture of prisoner in Mala Tokmachka: account by Deputy Commander of 3rd Battalion of 123rd TDF Brigade Clearing operation and capture of prisoner in Mala Tokmachka: account by Deputy Commander of 3rd Battalion of 123rd TDF Brigade Over the past year, a commander of the 123rd Territorial Defense Forces (TDF) Brigade has carried out dozens of combat missions to Mala Tokmachka, taken part in clearing operations, captured occupiers, evacuated the wounded, and supplied infantry with ammunition and provisions, while after missions he fed dogs and cats abandoned in the village. In the interview, the officer speaks about the most dangerous operations, enemy losses, his family, and explains why being "written off" is not yet an option for him. 4 526 5 Previously in trend: captured occupiers Fightings in the Zaporizhzhia direction

"Azov" soldier with call sign Beretta: "They beat everyone in captivity. During interrogations, they are especially cruel" "Azov" soldier with call sign Beretta: "They beat everyone in captivity. During interrogations, they are especially cruel" Eighteen Russian prisoners of war—that was the "haul" gathered by fighters from the International Battalion of the 12th Brigade "Azov" in less than a day. This happened in December last year on the penultimate day of the operation to clear the village of Zolotyi Kolodiaz in Donetsk Oblast. 12 076 14 Previously in trend: Azov Brigade

"I survived Mariupol, then had to survive captivity" – Artur Shkeul, 501st Separate Marine Battalion "I survived Mariupol, then had to survive captivity" – Artur Shkeul, 501st Separate Marine Battalion Artur Shkeul, a marine from Berdiansk, signed his contract in 2016 and had already gained combat experience in Donbas before 2022. His brother Vladyslav served alongside him and nearly lost his life in 2019. Artur had to personally save his brother, holding a neck tamponade. 6 247 1 Previously in trend: Rescuing soldiers from captivity

He was buried, but returned alive: how case of serviceman Nazar Daletskyi will affect DNA testing system He was buried, but returned alive: how case of serviceman Nazar Daletskyi will affect DNA testing system Ukraine will review the results of DNA tests of servicemen carried out using a single testing method. The Interior Ministry made the decision after the case of serviceman Nazar Daletskyi, who was declared dead and buried in the Lviv region in 2023, but returned alive from Russian captivity on February 5 this year as part of another prisoner exchange. 12 555 15 Previously in trend: DNA identification of the deceased

Torture by handbook: what happens to civilian Ukrainians in Russian penal colonies and why military are marked with brilliant green Torture by handbook: what happens to civilian Ukrainians in Russian penal colonies and why military are marked with brilliant green The Supreme Court has upheld the first-instance court’s ruling sentencing Denys Kulykovskyi, the commandant of the Russian torture site "Izoliatsiia" in occupied Donetsk (nicknamed "Palych"), to 15 years in prison. The update was reported on Facebook by lawyer Oleh Horbachov, who represents journalist Stanislav Asieiev, who was held there. 13 389 14 Previously in trend: Torture of POWs in Russian prisons Torture of Ukrainians in Russia

They jumped head-first off top bunk to break their necks. They were ready to do anything not to go hungry. For example, take blame for crime - Dmytro Turkivskyi on his time in captivity They jumped head-first off top bunk to break their necks. They were ready to do anything not to go hungry. For example, take blame for crime - Dmytro Turkivskyi on his time in captivity Dmytro Turkivskyi is a serviceman of the 1st Separate Battalion of the 36th Separate Marine Brigade. At just 19, he found himself at the very heart of Russia’s assault on Mariupol. Forty-two days of defense, captivity, and 1,246 days in imprisonment - trials that seem unimaginable to most became his reality. 10 531 7

Volodymyr Mykolaienko: Three weeks before Kherson was seized, President came and held press conference saying we were secure in this direction Volodymyr Mykolaienko: Three weeks before Kherson was seized, President came and held press conference saying we were secure in this direction Former Kherson mayor Volodymyr Mykolayenko considers August 24 his second birthday. It was on Independence Day this year that he returned home from Russian captivity. He had spent more than three years there after being abducted by the Russians from his hometown, which was already under occupation at the start of the full-scale invasion. 18 218 20 Previously in trend: Ukrainians in Russian captivity

Feat of Artist’s group: Four captured 15 Feat of Artist’s group: Four captured 15 On December 19, four Russian IFVs broke through to the village of Zahryzove in the Kharkiv region and landed two platoons of troops, numbering over 40 people, in the rear of Ukrainian positions. Pavel Holchynko’s assault group, codenamed Artist, from the 78th Separate Airborne Regiment, received orders to clear the settlement of Russian infantry. 6 051 9 Previously in trend: captured occupiers

Those who remained under occupation taken into army: How former ATO soldier captured by "Svoboda" battalion Those who remained under occupation taken into army: How former ATO soldier captured by "Svoboda" battalion Why Pavlo was unable to leave the occupation, how he ended up in Putin’s army, and later returned to Ukraine, but in captivity to the soldiers of the "Svoboda" battalion. 15 035 22

Captured occupier on his fellow soldiers in Kursk region: "Lifespan there is 2-3 days. Everyone sent there is doomed" Captured occupier on his fellow soldiers in Kursk region: "Lifespan there is 2-3 days. Everyone sent there is doomed" Kursk buffer zone: Russian servicemen surrendered to stay alive. One of them is Vladislav Chernyshev, an assistant grenadier and rifleman. 90 569 17

From captivity - with five captured Russians: story of aerial reconnaissance man from 82nd SAAB Bardak From captivity - with five captured Russians: story of aerial reconnaissance man from 82nd SAAB Bardak At the beginning of the Kursk offensive in August 2024, a group of four aerial reconnaissance men from the 82nd Separate Air Assault Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were captured when they unexpectedly reached an enemy position. However, the Russians soon began to realize that they themselves were surrounded. That’s when the senior pilot, code-named Bardak, convinced the enemy to surrender and released his group from captivity, bringing out five more Russians. 8 130 1

INTERVIEW WITH 19-YEAR-OLD CAPTURED RUSSIAN ASSAULTMAN WHO IS ONE TO SURVIVE FROM PLATOON INTERVIEW WITH 19-YEAR-OLD CAPTURED RUSSIAN ASSAULTMAN WHO IS ONE TO SURVIVE FROM PLATOON Soldiers of the 13th National Guard Brigade "Charter" repelled a massive attack by Russian troops during the week on one of our positions near the village of Lyptsi near Kharkiv. During one of the assaults, a wounded Russian assaultman was captured after being abandoned by his comrades. 19 775 26

"Returned tortured man had missing part of his brain, rag was sewn in instead," Anastasiia Savova, coordinator of families of captured marines "Returned tortured man had missing part of his brain, rag was sewn in instead," Anastasiia Savova, coordinator of families of captured marines The aggressor country holds Ukrainian prisoners of war in 42 pre-trial detention centers and penal colonies, where it uses numerous forms of torture, of which starvation and beatings seem the most innocuous. There is information that prisoners who are citizens of the Russian Federation have been resettled from most detention centers and colonies, which means that there is a deliberate policy of physical and mental extermination of Ukrainian prisoners of war. 32 344 34

Vasyl Stefurak: "We were addressed in Ukrainian language, and I thought that reinforcements had finally arrived. But it turned out to be paratroopers-traitors from Crimea..." Vasyl Stefurak: "We were addressed in Ukrainian language, and I thought that reinforcements had finally arrived. But it turned out to be paratroopers-traitors from Crimea..." The commander of the 3rd Mechanized Company of the 28th Brigade spent a year and three and a half months in captivity. His comrades in arms are still in captivity. 36 671 22 Previously in trend: War

"We need to stop enemy with whole country, not in way it is now: in one part of country war is ongoing, and in another part, it is not," - National Guard Officer Mykhailo Vernyhora "We need to stop enemy with whole country, not in way it is now: in one part of country war is ongoing, and in another part, it is not," - National Guard Officer Mykhailo Vernyhora Battles in Mariupol and an injury during an attempt to evacuate a Ukrainian soldier, amputation of an arm at Azovstal, captivity, release, adaptation, rehabilitation, and service again. This has been the path of Mykhailo Vernyhora, a National Guard Officer, since 2022. However, for him, the war began in 2014, with preparations for the liberation of Sloviansk in Donetsk region. And despite the loss of his arm, his fight continues. 14 490 107 Previously in trend: War

20 months in captivity. Fascinating story of musician of military orchestra 20 months in captivity. Fascinating story of musician of military orchestra 20 months in captivity, losing 40 kilograms of weight, Pushkin’s poems and Zhukov’s biography.... Volodymyr Tsema-Bursov, a native of Mariupol, a soldier of the 56th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade of the Armed Forces, a professional musician, spoke about his Russian captivity in the program "Who is with Miroshnychenko?" 16 493 12 Previously in trend: War

Wife of captured National Guard officer Valeriy Lutchenko: Many people do not even know that 103 Chernobyl NPP defenders are still in captivity Wife of captured National Guard officer Valeriy Lutchenko: Many people do not even know that 103 Chernobyl NPP defenders are still in captivity She has been fighting for almost two years to get her husband, a National Guard officer who defended the Chernobyl nuclear power plant on the first day of the full-scale Russian attack, back from captivity. During this time, her father, who was the commander of a reconnaissance platoon and fought in Donbas, was seriously wounded and died in hospital, right in front of her. So when we talked to Valeriya Lutchenko, we talked about both of them - the most important people in her life. 10 913 57 Previously in trend: War

Prisoners exchange in Ukraine: Key Issues Prisoners exchange in Ukraine: Key Issues The official stance of the Russian Federation and its secret services has been voiced by “Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR)” spokesperson Darya Morozova: the RF has no intent to fulfill any agreements on the exchange. 37 903 11 Previously in trend: Ukrainian hostages in Russia

Ukraine's New Hope Ukraine's New Hope Nadia Sacvhenko could just turn out to be Ukraine's Vaclav Havel; or its Lech Walesa; or its Nelson Mandela. 201 0 Previously in trend: Ukrainian hostages in Russia

Sergeant Volodymyr Kozak: How and when 10 Russian paratroopers were captured on Aug. 24, 2014 Sergeant Volodymyr Kozak: How and when 10 Russian paratroopers were captured on Aug. 24, 2014 Capture of a whole unit of the Russian Federation Armed Forces allowed radically changing foreign policy situation. The world received the most speaking evidence of Russian invasion in Ukraine. It was one of the most important moments in the war. But who and how did it? 84 504 123 Previously in trend: Russian aggression against Ukraine Evidence of Russian aggression in Ukraine War

How Russian Special Forces soldiers were taken captive on May 16 near Shchastia How Russian Special Forces soldiers were taken captive on May 16 near Shchastia So, that is what is known at the moment: recon element of the 3rd brigade of Russian Military Forces has come for another round of war to Ukraine. Brigade divisions leave for the war regularly – this is a part of military training. The group was staff-based, there were no “mercenaries,” all commanded by Captain Yevgeniy Yerofeyev. The unit’s headquarters is located in Bryanka. Shchastia was in the zone of responsibility of the 3rd Special Forces brigade of Russian Federation. 142 883 156 Previously in trend: Russian aggression against Ukraine Evidence of Russian aggression in Ukraine Captured Russian special forces operatives War

VOLUNTEER MAKSYM VAKULENKO: “SEPARATISTS MADE ME CRAWL WITH SHOT LEGS. I WAS LOSING CONSCIOUSNESS BUT KEPT THINKING: ‘F*CK YOU, I WON’T PEG OUT’” VOLUNTEER MAKSYM VAKULENKO: “SEPARATISTS MADE ME CRAWL WITH SHOT LEGS. I WAS LOSING CONSCIOUSNESS BUT KEPT THINKING: ‘F*CK YOU, I WON’T PEG OUT’” I was closing the wound on my right leg with my fingers and trying to squeeze the artery on my left leg. In such condition I tried to crawl to their trenches. I crawled three-four meters watching a blood path from the car to me. I felt neither pain, nor fear, just shock. The fear came a few days after, when I realized what happened. 173 841 254