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Amidst the escalating Ukraine-Russia conflict, the issue of captivity has taken a center stage with over 10,000 Russian soldiers captured, as reported by the 'I Want to Live' project. Ukraine has made significant strides, with 2,080 military personnel and 230 civilians returned from captivity in 2025 alone. However, disturbing reports of torture and the increasing number of foreign mercenaries add complexity to this humanitarian crisis. The Coordination Headquarters has emphasized the importance of prisoner exchanges and the urgent need for Russia to adhere to international laws regarding the treatment of prisoners of war.

How many Russian soldiers have been captured in the Ukraine conflict?

As of now, over 10,000 Russian soldiers have been reported captured during the full-scale war against Ukraine. This figure has been compiled by the 'I Want to Live' project, emphasizing a significant increase in prisoners of war due to ongoing hostilities.

What challenges do captives face in the Ukraine-Russia conflict?

The captives in the ongoing Ukraine-Russia conflict face several challenges, including torture, lack of basic human rights, and inadequate exchanges. Reports have detailed harsh conditions and the refusal to engage in fair exchanges based on the "all for all" principle, further complicating the situation.

What initiatives are in place to address prisoner exchanges between Ukraine and Russia?

Efforts to conduct prisoner exchanges between Ukraine and Russia are ongoing, with the Coordination Headquarters reporting a record number of exchanges in 2025. The exchanges have facilitated the return of numerous military personnel and civilians, but challenges persist due to diplomatic tensions.

Are there any foreign nationals involved in the Ukraine-Russia captivity issues?

Yes, there is a notable presence of foreign nationals involved in the Ukraine-Russia captivity issues. There have been reports of foreign mercenaries and recruited soldiers among the captives, highlighting the international dimension of this conflict and the varied backgrounds of those captured.

What are the humanitarian concerns related to captivity in the Ukraine conflict?

The captivity situation in the Ukraine conflict raises significant humanitarian concerns, including reports of torture, inadequate care for prisoners, and the emotional and psychological impact on both military personnel and civilians. These concerns underscore the urgent need for international intervention and adherence to human rights conventions.

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TOP news captivity

полон,викрадення 2.5 thousand Ukrainians are still in captivity of rashists, - Vereshchuk Russia holds 2,500 Ukrainians captive, including many civilians. 2 017 17 Previously in trend: War

прокопенко,азов Erdogan’s spokesman Kalin told how exchange of commanders of "Azovstal" defenders was agreed upon: Initially, there were 15 names on list The spokesman of the President of Turkey, Ibrahim Kalin, spoke about how the lists for the exchange of commanders-defenders of "Azovstal" were coordinated. 9 718 17 Previously in trend: War

визволення,полонені Another exchange of prisoners took place. Ukraine returned 6 people - four marines and two civilians, - PO. VIDEO&PHOTOS 6 people returned to Ukraine from Russian captivity. Of them, 4 marines participated in the battles for Mariupol. 13 990 17 Previously in trend: War

зеленський Among those returned from captivity are those who were captured by Russians long before their full-scale invasion, - Zelensky. VIDEO President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky made a traditional evening address to Ukrainian citizens. 5 700 17 Previously in trend: Russian aggression against Ukraine Prisoner swap War

плен 113 Ukrainian hostages remain in militants' captivity, 642 people missing in Donbas, - SBU Head Adviser Tandit The Ukrainian side continues its search for 642 people who went missing in the Donbas. 8 007 17 Previously in trend: Russian aggression against Ukraine

війна Ukrainian Armed Forces soldier rescued from Russian captivity by drone. VIDEO Ukrainian defenders used a drone to rescue a soldier from enemy captivity. The captured fighter even managed to untie his hands and feet in the enemy trench. 23 030 17 Previously in trend: War

Володимир Зеленський During war, 3,310 people were already returned to Ukraine from Russian captivity. We are currently preparing new solutions for sake of our strength and protection of our people, - Zelenskyy. VIDEO Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke about the release of Ukrainian military and civilians from Russian captivity and stressed that Ukraine was preparing new solutions to protect Ukrainians. 1 261 17

Скільки військовополонених загинули у російському полоні At least 177 Ukrainian soldiers died in Russian captivity - Ministry of Defense Since the Kremlin's full-scale invasion of the country, at least 177 Ukrainians have died in Russian captivity, according to new data from the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. 3 658 17

POW of the Russian Federation Occupier surrendered to AFU soldiers in Kursk region: Russian bumped into our fighters while looking for water. VIDEO Russian soldier Filip Tsurkan, a resident of the Novgorod region, decided to try to "enrich" his family by going to the military enlistment office. It happened on 25 November 2024, when he officially enlisted in the occupation army to finally pay child support for his children. 8 283 16 Previously in trend: War

війна Russian mercenary, who was tried twice, told how he ended up in war: "I read announcement on porch". VIDEO Vadim Anatolyevich Spiryakin, a twice-convicted man from the Moscow region, was looking for a job. When the Russian read an advert on his doorstep saying "contract work in the Armed Forces", he planned to work as a welder, but ended up on the front line. 6 121 16 Previously in trend: War

POWs Fighters of 3rd SAB went into enemy’s rear and captured 6 occupiers who took Ukrainians for their own. VIDEO Soldiers of the 2nd Company of the 2nd Assault Battalion of the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade infiltrated the enemy's rear during a combat operation and captured 6 Russian soldiers who mistook Ukrainians for their own. 11 180 16 Previously in trend: War

Українські військовополонені та цивільні систематично піддаються катуванням на всіх етапах полону Mock executions, electroshock, rape: Enemy tortures Ukrainian POWs at all stages of captivity, - UN Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilians are systematically tortured at all stages of their stay in Russian captivity. 6 559 16

Negotiations on prisoners exchange continue - SBU The negotiation process for the exchange of prisoners continues. Allegations that the negotiation process has allegedly come to a deadlock are not true. 3 187 16 Ukrainian Politics

Yevhen Matveev Russians tortured mayor of Dniprorudne Matveev in captivity, his body was handed over during last exchange. PHOTO The Russian occupiers tortured the mayor of Dniprorudne, Zaporizhzhia region, Yevhen Matveev, in captivity. 12 822 18

полон,викрадення Russia released ten foreign prisoners of war, - Reuters On Wednesday, September 21, Russia released 10 foreign prisoners of war who fought on the side of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. 9 674 16 Previously in trend: Russian aggression against Ukraine War

nfylbn 133 Ukrainians held captive by pro-Russian militants, - SBU head's adviser Tandit. VIDEO The Security Service of Ukraine has announced that 133 Ukrainians are being held captive by pro-Russian militants in the Donbas. 2 375 16 Ukrainian Politics

POW exchange talks to continue today, - SBU Adviser Tandit Last weekend's failed talks on prisoners exchange will continue today. 2 261 16 Incidents

140 people remain in militants’ captivity in Donbas, - MP Iryna Herashchenko Pro-Russian militants are holding 140 hostages in the Donbas, but the exact location of only 50 people is known while the rest must be searched for. 2 087 16 Previously in trend: Occupied territories - Crimea and Donbas

красківський Occupiers held head of district in Chernihiv region captive for 1.5 days. Man was mocked to obtain information about location of Armed Forces. PHOTOS For a day and a half, the Russian occupiers held in custody Oleksandr Kraskivskyi, the head of the Zamhlai Starostynsky District #1 in the Chernihiv Region. The man was beaten while trying to obtain information about the location of the Armed Forces units in the rear. 14 652 16 Previously in trend: War

полонені,обмін There was exchange of 11 prisoners - Kim Ukraine and Russia exchanged 11 prisoners. In particular the head of one of communities of Mykolaiv region was released from captivity. 13 811 15 Previously in trend: War

верещук Occupiers are holding 700 soldiers and almost thousand civilians - Vereshchuk About a thousand Ukrainian civilians, half of them women, and 700 servicemen are currently in Russian captivity. 4 398 15 Previously in trend: Russian aggression against Ukraine War

захаров 87 percent of military, 50 percent of civilians underwent tortures in terrorists' captivity, - human rights activist Zakharov 87 percent of Ukrainian soldiers and 50 percent of civilians were tortured in "LPR"and "DPR" captivity. 13 418 15 Previously in trend: Occupied territories - Crimea and Donbas

Victoria Roshchyna’s body shows signs of torture Russians tortured Ukrainian journalist Roshchyna, some organs removed to hide brutal traces of torture - Prosecutor General’s Office Numerous signs of torture and ill-treatment were found on the body of Ukrainian journalist Viktoria Roshchyna, who died in Russian captivity, including abrasions and hemorrhages on various parts of the body, and a broken rib. Experts also saw possible signs of electric shock. 7 290 32 Previously in trend: Death of Victoria Roshchyna

обмін полоненими Process of last exchange was extremely difficult. Among freed are 38 soldiers of National Guard, 2 policemen, and 2 border guards - Klymenko. PHOTOS Among the Ukrainian servicemen released from enemy captivity the day before were 42 employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. 4 495 15 Previously in trend: War

“Militants still hold 16 of our guys,” - Ukrainian soldier Yaroshevych liberated from captivity There are 16 more people in the militants’ captivity, where Ukrainian soldiers released yesterday were held. 20 623 15 Society

тандит Russian militants hold 110 hostages, 3,100 released since ATO launched in Donbas, - SBU Nearly 3,100 persons have been located and released from the terrorists’ captivity since the launch of the anti-terrorist operation (ATO) in Ukraine’s east. 110 people are still being held hostage and 490 are considered missing. 4 176 15 Previously in trend: Russian aggression against Ukraine Occupied territories - Crimea and Donbas

полон,обмін Released Ukrainian servicemen are already going to their relatives. VIDEO The Ukrainian military, who was released during an exchange on April 1, will soon see their families and brothers. 21 070 15 Previously in trend: War

Death of journalist Roshchina in captivity New details emerge Former head of Taganrog pre-trial detention centre personally gave orders to torture journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna - National Police. PHOTOS Law enforcement officers have established the chronology of the detention of a Ukrainian journalist in a Russian detention centre. 6 910 16 Previously in trend: Death of Victoria Roshchyna Torture of POWs in Russian prisons War crimes of Russia

prisoners of war Soldiers of 810th Brigade of Russian Naval Forces, being captured, ask their fellow citizens not to go to war in Ukraine. VIDEO In the Kursk region, Russian marines from the 810th Separate Brigade of the Russian Navy decided to "celebrate" Marine Corps Day in an unusual way - by being captured by the Ukrainian defence forces. During the fighting, a group of Russian invaders were captured. The Ukrainian defenders demonstrate humanity and respect for international norms even towards those who came to our land with war. 7 773 15 Previously in trend: War

Russians severely tortured American Hubbard in captivit Russians tortured 73-year-old American Hubbard, who was captured in Izium in 2022 - NYT Russian occupiers tortured 73-year-old US citizen Stephen James Hubbard, who was taken prisoner in Izium, Kharkiv region, in April 2022. 7 739 22 Previously in trend: War

RF Russian POWs would rather "surrender" than fight: "There is no evacuation, no cars are sent, snow was melted today". VIDEO The soldiers of the 6th Regiment of the Special Operations Forces replenished the exchange fund after a series of payload drops on the heads of enemy troops. The surviving occupiers themselves are begging the SOF to take them prisoner. 6 484 15 Previously in trend: War

тандит DPR militants confirm 42 Ukrainian hostages on territories they control, - SBU head adviser Tandit Militants of the self-proclaimed "Donetsk People's Republic" have confirmed holding 42 Ukrainian citizens hostages. 5 703 14 Previously in trend: Russian aggression against Ukraine

лубінець Russia is trying to create social tension in Ukraine by using relatives of prisoners, - Lubinets Russia is trying to create social and political tension within our state through relatives of prisoners of war and civilian hostages. 1 982 14 War in Ukraine

полон,британець,гардінг It became known about another Briton in Russian captivity British citizen John Harding, who in recent years was a paramedic in the ranks of the "Azov" regiment, was captured by the Russians. 6 045 14 War in Ukraine

Russian-backed militants still hold 127 hostages in Donbas, - MP Iryna Herashchenko 127 people are still held in captivity by the militants in the occupied territories of the Donbas. 2 305 14 Previously in trend: Occupied territories - Crimea and Donbas

військовополонені "Life of every Ukrainian is the highest value" - SSU publishes footage of May 6 release of prisoners. VIDEO On Saturday, 26 May, another prisoner exchange between Ukraine and Russia took place. SSU published a video of 45 Ukrainians returning home. 5 275 14 Previously in trend: Prisoner swap

captured Russian Russian prisoner tells about losses of DPRK military: "There were Koreans ahead of us, but I saw only dead ones". VIDEO Zlobin Andrey Valerievich from the 11th Separate Air Assault Brigade of the Russian Army was captured by Ukrainian paratroopers in the village of Makhnovka, Kursk region. 11 107 38 Previously in trend: War

nine occupiers surrender Nine occupiers under white flag heading for captivity in Pokrovsk direction. VIDEO A group of occupiers in the Pokrovsk direction raised a white flag and surrendered. 13 852 23

наручники Occupiers captured fifty Ukrainian civilians. They are accused of ties with SSU In one week, the Russian Guard captured more than fifty people in the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions. They are suspected of "connections with the Ukrainian military and special services." 6 486 14 Previously in trend: Occupied territories - Crimea and Donbas

чернігів "Screaming without words": silent action in support of National Guard defenders of Chornobyl NPP, who have been held captive by Russia for more than two years, was held in Chernihiv. VIDEO In the center of Chernihiv, relatives of the captured National Guard defenders of the Chornobyl nuclear power plant held a silent action. 3 132 14 Incidents

оленівка Ukrainian prisoners in Olenivka were killed by Russians - either by point-blank hit or by explosion from inside - Institute for Study of War The premises in which the Russians kept Ukrainian prisoners of war in Olenivka was destroyed with the help of either a point impact from the outside, or an incendiary substance or explosives from the inside. 3 394 13 Previously in trend: War

полонені,обмін Ukraine and Russia agreed on exchange of 200 prisoners of war, - Erdogan The President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, said that Ukraine and Russia managed to reach an agreement on the exchange of 200 prisoners of war. 5 062 13 Previously in trend: War

війна Soldiers of the Sicheslavska Brigade rescue our fighter from captivity in Pokrovsk direction. VIDEO In the Pokrovsk direction, aerial reconnaissance of the 25th Separate Airborne Sicheslavska Brigade, while working on their sector, saw that the Russians had captured our soldier. 17 900 13 Previously in trend: War

Russia lies about captured pilot in Kursk region Information about capturing of our pilot in Kursk region is not true - Air Forces Russian propaganda media are spreading information that a Ukrainian pilot has surrendered in the Kursk region. This is a fake. 8 008 13

добровольці Volunteer fighters from "Bashkort" company capture crew of Russian BMP-3 and take armored vehicle as trophy in Pokrovsk direction. VIDEO Soldiers from the Bashkort company in the Pokrovsk direction captured the crew of a Russian BMP-3 and captured a serviceable armoured vehicle. 13 639 13 Previously in trend: War

війна Ukrainian Armed Forces capture former mayor of Russian city in Donetsk region. VIDEO Oleksiy Tretyakov, the former mayor of Tchaikovsky, a town in the Perm region of Russia, was captured by the Ukrainian military. 11 909 13 Previously in trend: War

POW Ukrainian drone dropped leaflet, and occupier, from Storm V unit, decided to surrender voluntarily. VIDEO In the Zaporizhzhia direction, Ukrainian soldiers captured a Russian soldier mobilised from among prisoners. Common Soldier German Koniakhin, born in 1970, a native of Bataysk, Rostov region, surrendered voluntarily after reading a leaflet dropped by a Ukrainian drone. 7 084 13 Previously in trend: War

468 Ukrainian Citizens Were Released from Captivity over Last Two Weeks - Nalyvaichenko 468 people were freed from captivity for the last two weeks. The bodies of 123 people were returned to relatives. 2 983 13 Incidents