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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

буряк Solitary confinement and cleaning of torture chamber: son of head of Zaporozhia DSA Buriaka told about Russian captivity Vlad Buriak, the 16-year-old son of the head of Zaporizhia DSA, who was released from captivity, heard how other prisoners were tortured; he himself was in solitary confinement. 60 720 13 Previously in trend: War

Ukraine to bring up issue of hostages at Minsk today amid information about worsened conditions for Ukrainian captives, - Ukraine's representative in Minsk Herashchenko Major issues of the upcoming talks will include security, daily shelling, violation of the cease-fire, and that of hostages. 4 635 13 Previously in trend: Russian aggression against Ukraine

Розвідник Вадим втік з російського полону Scout from 58th Brigade with call sign Vados managed to escape from captivity, return to his comrades and continue fighting occupiers. PHOTO Professionalism and experience, multiplied by strength of mind and courage, helped Vados to get out of an almost hopeless situation alive and even unharmed. 8 126 13 Previously in trend: War

полонені,британці Two more captured Britons face death penalty in "DPR", - mass media Russian state media reported that two more captured British citizens were charged with hiring. 6 151 13 Previously in trend: War

Russian soldier surrenders to Ukrainian Armed Forces He shouted "glory to russia" and then surrendered: occupier himself came out to AFU soldiers. VIDEO In the Toretsk sector, fighters of the "Khyzhak" brigade of the Patrol Police Department, together with the 28th Separate Mechanised Brigade, captured a 22-year-old Russian soldier from Astrakhan. 7 439 13 Previously in trend: captured occupiers

Liberated soldier sings "Chervona Kalyna" In first minutes on his native soil, soldier of Armed Forces of Ukraine, freed from captivity, sings "Chervona Kalyna". VIDEO In his first moments on his native land, the Ukrainian Armed Forces serviceman who was freed from captivity sang "Chervona Kalyna". 5 313 16 Previously in trend: Prisoner swap

геращенко Ukraine insists on final verification of list of prisoners for exchange until May 24, - Iryna Herashchenko The Ukrainian side insists on final verification of list of hostages at a meeting in Minsk on May 24. 2 123 12 Ukrainian Politics

свинарчук,олександр,морпіх "Sania held on for a long time". Capture, torture and life imprisonment of marine Oleksandr Svynarchuk. VIDEO For two years, Oleksandr Svynarchuk, a company commander of the 36th Separate Marine Brigade named after Bilinsky, has been held in Russian captivity. In April 2022, some marines managed to break through to Azovstal from the territory of the Ilyich plant in Mariupol, while others were captured by the Russians. 17 515 12 Previously in trend: War

"No decisions to exchange Russian GRU operatives ever taken in Minsk," - MP Iryna Herashchenko Representatives in the Trilateral Contact Group to resolve situation in the Donbas has never negotiated about commandos of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation (GRU) Yerofeyev and Aleksandrov captured in Ukraine. 2 873 12 Previously in trend: Captured Russian special forces operatives

нацгвардія National Guard captured "Wagnerian" near Avdiivka As a result of intense fighting, units of the National Guard of Ukraine in the Bakhmut direction destroyed two tanks, 4 BMPs, self-propelled artillery unit, and enemy manpower in a week. 12 639 12 Previously in trend: War

діти,депортація Kuleba called on Red Cross to help stop deportation of Ukrainian children to Russian Federation Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba held a meeting in Kyiv with the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Miryana Spolyarych. 737 12 Previously in trend: War

189 Ukrainians returned from captivity on New Year’s Eve Ukraine returns 189 defenders from Russian captivity. PHOTOS On New Year's Eve, 30 December, Ukraine returned 189 Ukrainian soldiers from Russian captivity. 11 811 12 Previously in trend: Prisoner swap

донбасс заложники "You would not hear about them on television; they are not heroes of talk shows; they are simply Heroes!" - Kolesnyk reminded about 11 Ukrainians held captive by terrorists. PHOTOS Deputy of the Kryvyi Rih City Council Mykola Kolesnyk urged to assist the release of hostages held captive by terrorists in the Donbas. 17 058 12 Ukrainian Politics

азов,торк "They got hold of two or three people and said they wanted information on Redis, Taurus and Kalina," story of Azov Tork, who returned from captivity. VIDEO A video of the Azov man on the pseudo "Tork" about his captivity by the Russians and his return to Ukraine has been published online. 27 979 12 Previously in trend: Russian aggression against Ukraine War

war 92nd SAB fighters captured Russian invader after soldier asked him for cigarette. VIDEO Soldiers of the 92nd Separate Assault Brigade (SAB) named after Kosh Ataman Ivan Sirko approached the Russians and simply took them prisoner. 10 210 22 Previously in trend: Situation at front

оленівка Russia removes evidence of war crime in Olenivka, - Lubinets. VIDEO The Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights, Dmytro Lubinets, believes that Russia will hide the traces of the war crime in Olenivka and only then will it allow representatives of the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross into the colony, where captured Ukrainian fighters died on July 29. 7 013 11 Previously in trend: War

31-year-old Tuvan surrendered to Ukrainian border guards Tuva-born occupier surrenders to Ukrainian border guards in Pokrovsk direction. VIDEO In the Pokrovsk direction, servicemen of the rapid response commandant’s office of the Chernihiv Border Detachment captured a 31-year-old Russian citizen from the Republic of Tuva, with the call sign "Taiga." 4 555 30 Previously in trend: captured occupiers

війна Russian 200th Separate Motor Rifle Brigade lost 8 MTLBs and 80 assaultmen during offensive in Chasiv Yar area - captured occupier. VIDEO Denis Ivanov is from the Murmansk region, from the Russian city of Kirovsk. The occupier was a mechanic-driver in a separate assault unit. 9 653 11 Previously in trend: War

Fighters captured Russian millionaire fraudster Captured dollar millionaire from Novosibirsk. VIDEO Klimov Daniil Nikolaevich, 29.04.2004, a serviceman of the 74th Brigade of the RF Armed Forces, 1444th Regiment. A dollar millionaire, an "officer" from Novosibirsk. For 2.5 years, his call centre has been extorting money from Russians. 15 510 26 Previously in trend: captured occupiers

оленівка Captured "Azov" fighters were blown up with flamethrower charge in Olenivka - Prosecutor General’s Office The thermobaric ammunition was probably the source of the explosion in the colony in the temporarily occupied Olenivka of the Donetsk region, as a result of which dozens of Ukrainian prisoners of war were killed. 15 430 11 Previously in trend: Russian aggression against Ukraine War

дрг,полон We call on Russians to learn rules of surrender, - AFU command. VIDEO Strategic Communications Department of Ukraine’s Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief issued an address to Russian military with a call to learn surrender rules. 9 494 11 Previously in trend: Russian aggression against Ukraine War

полон Exchange fund was replenished: soldiers of Ukrainian Armed Forces captured three occupiers in Zaporizhzhia direction. VIDEO In the course of counter-attack operations, the Ukrainian Defence Forces continue to replenish the exchange fund. Three Russian invaders captured by our soldiers in the Zaporizhzhia direction were shown online. 7 656 11 Previously in trend: War

полонені More captured occupiers, more chances that all Ukrainian defenders will return home, - Reznikov Ukraine remembers all captured defenders and must do everything to save everyone. 1 912 11 Previously in trend: War

Azov fighters take 20 Russians prisoner in Toretsk direction - video Azov Brigade fighters captured 20 Russian occupiers in Toretsk direction. VIDEO Soldiers of the 12th Special Forces Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine "Azov" captured 20 Russian invaders in the Toretsk direction. 9 620 22 Previously in trend: captured occupiers

POW First, I shot myself in arm, then Russian command punished me, and I spent month in pit – stories of prisoners. VIDEO In the Pokrovsk direction, fighters of the 425th separate assault regiment "SKALA" (ROCK) captured two Russian servicemen from the 74th motorised rifle brigade of the Russian Federation. 5 783 10 Previously in trend: War

SOF captured six occupiers. Video of operation SOF soldiers captured six occupiers behind enemy lines: "If you don’t get out you’re f#cked up, you’re surrounded". VIDEO During special operations behind enemy lines, the SOF soldiers forced six Russian soldiers to surrender. 14 721 34 Previously in trend: captured occupiers

Rada allows POWs to retain salaries in full The Ukrainian parliament has passed a bill allowing captive servicemen to retain their wages. 4 249 10 Ukrainian Politics

зеленський Russian military can be saved only by tough protest or surrender, - Zelensky Russian soldiers can save themselves from death in Ukraine only by tough protest or surrendering to Ukrainian captivity. 2 046 10 Previously in trend: Russian aggression against Ukraine War

оленівка UN mission to arrive in next few days in Olenivka, where Ukrainian prisoners of war were killed - Deputy Secretary General of organization A UN fact-finding mission is due to arrive in coming days to an occupied town of Olenivka, Donetsk region, where more than 50 Ukrainian prisoners of war were killed in late July. 1 562 10 Previously in trend: Russian aggression against Ukraine War

інтервю "We’ll give you injection, you’ll tell everything you know and don’t know," Tereshchenko, leader of community captured by occupiers, told about it. VIDEO Viktor Tereshchenko, the head of the Velyky Burluk community, was captured by the Russian invaders in March, right from his workplace. After being detained at the local police station, his condition worsened over the course of several days, and Viktor Mykhailovych was hospitalized. Realizing the threat to his life, he decided to leave for the territory controlled by Ukraine. 7 401 10 Previously in trend: War

полон,прикордонники,визволення Physical and psychological state of health of released from captivity border guards is difficult, - State Border Service On September 21, 215 defenders of Ukraine returned from Russian captivity, including 9 border guards who courageously defended Mariupol to the last. 6 620 10 Previously in trend: War

лубінець 800 seriously wounded Ukrainian servicemen are held captive by Russians, - Lubinets There are 800 seriously wounded Ukrainian soldiers on Russian territory. 3 696 10 Previously in trend: War

обмін Exchange of prisoners: exclusive video of SSU. VIDEO Another 116 Ukrainians were released from enemy captivity. 11 560 10 Previously in trend: War

captivity Soldiers of 5th SAB jump off vehicle and capture lone Russian standing in field. VIDEO Soldiers of the 5th Separate Assault Brigade of Kyiv captured a Russian invader in the middle of a field in the Kramatorsk direction. 12 703 25 Previously in trend: Situation at front

війна Border guards take Russian prisoner: "Raise your hands, you’re over barrel, lie on your back, lie down, do not even think about standing up". VIDEO The subversive reconnaissance group of the 15th Mobile Border Guard Detachment "Steel Border" of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine replenished the exchange fund with a captured occupant. 12 628 10 Previously in trend: War

Russians with a poster saying "We want to surrender" Group of occupiers raised poster reading ’We want to surrender’ after drone strike in Kharkiv region. VIDEO Fighters of the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade forced surviving occupiers to surrender after carrying out a combined strike with aerial and ground drones on enemy positions in the Kharkiv region. 131 060 18 Previously in trend: Fighting in Kharkiv direction

war "Forpost" fighters captured enemy stormtrooper in Vovchansk direction. VIDEO Soldiers of the "Forpost" brigade, who are currently performing tasks in the Vovchansk direction, have replenished the exchange pool. 3 317 10 Previously in trend: Situation at front

POW exchange on May 23 Ukraine brings home 270 service members and 120 civilian Ukrainians – Coordination Headquarters On May 23, the first day of the "1000-for-1000" prisoner exchange, 390 Ukrainians were freed from Russian captivity – 270 military personnel and 120 civilians. 9 078 21 Previously in trend: Prisoner swap

євген,корнійчук Ambassador Korniychuk: Information about Ukrainians in Hamas captivity has not been confirmed The information that Ukrainian citizens are being held captive by Hamas militants has not been confirmed. 855 10 World

оленівка CNN refuted version of Russians regarding tragedy in Olenivka: Use of HIMARS is excluded. PHOTO Journalists of the American edition of CNN conducted their own investigation into the murder of the captured defenders of "Azovstal" in Olenivka. The report confirms Russia’s involvement in the tragedy. 8 715 10 Previously in trend: War

occupiers Soldiers of 79th SAAB capture seven invaders in Kurakhove direction. VIDEO Soldiers of the 79th Separate Air Assault Tavriia Brigade conducted a successful operation in the Kurakhove direction, capturing seven Russian invaders. 3 732 10

обмін To date, 24 exchanges have already been carried out, 808 people have been returned from Russian captivity, - Maliar As of October 2, Ukraine had 24 exchanges with Russia. 808 people were returned from Russian captivity. 1 933 9 Previously in trend: Russian aggression against Ukraine War

полон,викрадення 600 Ukrainians were released from captivity, including more than 100 civilians, - Smirnov Since February, Ukraine has returned 600 of its citizens from Russian captivity. 7 723 9 Previously in trend: War

Budanov told which prisoners are difficult to exchange Budanov regarding prisoner exchange: Certain categories of prisoners have become ’problematic’ for both Ukraine and Russia The head of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine Kyrylo Budanov said that the exchange of certain categories of prisoners is difficult to perceive in the societies of Ukraine and Russia. 6 851 10 Previously in trend: Prisoner swap

Russians show video of interrogation of Australian allegedly captured in war in Ukraine Russia releases video of interrogation of Australian allegedly captured in Ukraine: country verifies information. VIDEO Russian propagandists have spread a video showing an Australian citizen allegedly captured during the fighting in Ukraine being interrogated. Australia is currently checking the authenticity of the video and identifying the man. 6 738 9 Previously in trend: War

POWs of the Russian army Soldiers of 3rd SAB eliminate six occupiers in Kharkiv region, capture four more. VIDEO In the Kharkiv region, soldiers of the 2nd Mechanised Battalion of the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade (SAB) captured four occupiers despite continuous attacks by Russian infantry. Six Russian invaders from the same group were eliminated. 5 565 9 Previously in trend: War

Confessions of Russian soldiers After "pipe" to Kupiansk, captured occupiers advise Russian military "not to fall for any b#llshit" from their commanders. VIDEO The Ukrainian military captured a group of Russian occupiers who tried to enter the city of Kupiansk, Kharkiv region, through a gas pipe on scooters. According to Censor.NET, the video confession of the prisoners was released by the 10th Army Corps of the Land Forces of AFU. 15 793 21 Previously in trend: Fighting in the Kupіansk direction

Ukrainian paratroopers captured Russian soldiers in Kursk Ukrainian paratroopers captured group of Russian soldiers in Kursk. VIDEO Paratroopers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, together with adjacent units, again captured a group of Russian servicemen in the Kursk sector. 11 738 30 Previously in trend: AFU captured occupiers in Kursk region