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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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Eight Ukrainian soldiers near Novotroitske detained by Russian occupation forces Eight Ukrainian soldiers near Novotroitske detained by Russian occupation forces Some eight servicemen of Ukraine's Armed Forces near Novotroitske, Donetsk region have been taken into custody by Russia-occupation forces. 37 771 264 Previously in trend: Russian aggression against Ukraine

россия спецназ гру александров ерофеев Russian commandos Yerofeyev and Aleksandrov are awaiting trial in Kyiv, SBU press-secretary says The Security Service of Ukraine has denied information on alleged exchange of the two Russians - GRU special forces operatives Yevgeniy Yerofeyev and Alexander Aleksandrov. 38 930 263 Incidents

савченко SBU checks information on Savchenko’s meeting with "DPR"/"LPR" leaders Ukrainian lawmaker Nadiia Savchenko failed to notify the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) of her visit to Minsk to meet with the leaders of the so-called "Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics". 64 022 253 Previously in trend: Russian aggression against Ukraine

карпюк 'I committed a perjury against my friends and comrades under tortures’ – Ukrainian prisoner in Russia Karpiuk ’Right Sector’ deputy chief for ideological work Mykola Karpiuk, detained by Russians on March 17, 2014, told about his suicide attempt after being tortured by Russian special services. 83 351 250 Previously in trend: Yatseniuk in Chechnya

савченко savchenko "This circus can show clowns, not justice," - Savchenko commented on upcoming trial Ukrainian pilot, the Verkhovna Rada Deputy Nadiya Savchenko stated she would return to Ukraine at any cost. She has a dim view of the upcoming trial in the Russian Federation expecting no justice from it. The pilot has not made a will, as she planned. 19 930 250 Incidents

александров ерофеев aleksandrov yerofeyev SBU published recent photos of the Russian commandos Yerofeyev and Aleksandrov: "Their trial is scheduled for September". PHOTOS Advisor to the Chairman of the Security Service of Ukraine Yurii Tandit made pictures of Russian GRU operatives Aleksandrov and Yerofeyev. 84 981 250 Previously in trend: Captured Russian special forces operatives

війна Occupiers shot two captured Ukrainian soldiers. VIDEO In Avdiivka, Russian invaders shot two Ukrainian soldiers when they were unarmed and surrendered. The occupiers have once again violated the Geneva Convention and all possible agreements. 80 707 249 Previously in trend: War

Ukrainian military capture Russian national fighting in ranks of Donbas militants. PHOTOS Ukrainian military capture Russian national fighting in ranks of Donbas militants. PHOTOS Members of the 57th separate motorized infantry brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces captured a militant who had his passport issued in the Belgorod Oblast of the Russian Federation. 44 191 244 Incidents

порошенко Over 600 Ukrainian citizens are in captivity today - Poroshenko President Petro Poroshenko held a meeting with PACE President Anne Brasseur and the PACE delegation, which is on a working visit to Ukraine. 21 229 244 Previously in trend: Russian aggression against Ukraine

Names of six more Russian soldiers, taken as prisoners in Donbas, established. LIST Names of six more Russian servicemen, who were taken as prisoners by Ukrainian Army in the Donbas, have been established. 92 622 240 Previously in trend: Russian aggression against Ukraine

Two dozen of "lost" Russian servicemen were in captivity by the Ukrainian armed forces. LIST The incident with the two members of the Russian Special Forces unit, who were captured on May 17 near the town of Shchastia (the Luhansk region), has drawn a response both in Ukraine and abroad. 114 526 237 Previously in trend: Evidence of Russian aggression in Ukraine Captured Russian special forces operatives

розмазнин Ukrainian fighters detained group of military doctors in Donbas on June 18, - ATO deputy commander Rozmaznin The Russian military got lost in the Donbas and were detained by servicemen of the Ukrainian army. 180 791 232 Incidents

плен Terrorists hold captive more than 30 Ukrainian soldiers from Donetsk airport and Krasnyi Partyzan - Ruban About 30 Ukrainian soldiers were taken captive by the terrorists last week. 40 497 227 Previously in trend: Fighting for the Donetsk airport

суд беркут Russia seeks release of ex-Berkut officers accused of Maidan murders Moscow seeks release of the former Berkut officers with the help of the ''DPR'' and ''LPR'' leaders. 58 285 227 Previously in trend: Investigation of crimes against Maidan

"DPR" leaders demand law on amnesty of all militants from Ukraine The Ukrainian authorities should adopt a law on amnesty of militants who took part in the armed conflict in the Donbas. 48 493 227 Previously in trend: Russian aggression against Ukraine Occupied territories - Crimea and Donbas

плен обмен Five Ukrainian soldiers liberated from terrorist captivity. LIST Five more Ukrainian soldiers were liberated from the captivity of the pro-Russian militants on Saturday, March 7. 36 093 225 Previously in trend: Russian aggression against Ukraine

Released Ukrainian Servicemen about a Split in the Ranks of Terrorists: "Mercenaries Want to Get Away from Ukraine" The Ukrainian soldiers, who had been released from captivity in the Luhansk region, say that there is a split in the ranks of the terrorists. 82 446 225 Incidents

Savchenko's attorney: Hospital conditions are worse than those in prison Conditions in the special block of Moscow hospital where Ukrainian pilot Nadiya Savchenko was transferred to are worse than they were in jail. 20 193 222 Ukrainian Politics

ізюм Russian troops are caught in a cauldron in Izyum, - Butusov. PHOTO Units of several divisions of Russian Armed Forces did not have time to escape from Izyum and were surrounded. Paratroopers of 80th Airborne Assault Brigade of AFU very accurately and effectively destroy enemy. 111 586 220 Previously in trend: War

NSDC Confirmed that 5 Russian Mercenaries Captured near Ilovaisk The Ukrainian soldiers captured 5 Russian mercenaries in the battle near Ilovaisk in the Donetsk region. 55 377 218 Previously in trend: Battle for Donetsk

плен боевики Names of eight captive militants, aged between 21 and 49, established, - ATO speaker. LIST Over the day yesterday, nine pro-Russian militants were killed, eight received wounds. They were members of four different illegal armed groups. 234 799 218 Incidents

станко LPR Terrorists Imprisoned Journalist and Cameraman of Hromadske.TV The terrorists of the Luhansk People’s Republic captured Hromadske.TV journalist Anastasia Stanko and a cameraman in Luhansk. 83 517 217 Incidents

Russian Occupants Tortured and Humiliated me - Ukrainian Director Sentsov I was tortured and humiliated during official interrogation inside Simferopol Headquarters of the Security Servise. They wanted evidence against the leaders of the Maidan and Ukraine to accuse them as contracters of crimes. 68 218 217 Previously in trend: Russian aggression against Ukraine Occupation of Crimea

смерть,мудрак Freed Azov commander Oleh Mudrak dies after being tortured in captivity. PHOTOS Major and commander of Azov Regiment’s 1st Battalion, Oleh Mudrak, nicknamed "Sukhar," has passed away. Together with other Azovstal defenders, he spent six months in Russian captivity and survived terrorist attack in Olenivka. 123 204 216 War in Ukraine

Ukraine sends a protest note to Russia regarding the participation of Russian military in the war in Donbas Ukraine's Foreign Ministry filed a protest note with the Russian side in connection with the participation of Russian troops in the war in Eastern Ukraine (on the basis of the detention of two Russian servicemen near Shchastia of the Luhansk region). 27 110 215 Previously in trend: Captured Russian special forces operatives

плен Terrorists ready to release 152 Ukrainian prisoners - SBU The LPR and DPR terrorists are ready to release 152 Ukrainian citizens held in their captivity in exchange for 223 people detained by the Security Service of Ukraine. 55 233 215 Society

спецназ обсе плен рф госпиталь captive Russian special forces operatives osce hospital Representatives of OSCE, Amnesty International and EU monitoring mission visit captive Russian special forces operatives in the hospital. PHOTO The OSCE, Amnesty International and the European Union monitoring mission visited the two Russian special forces servicemen in the hospital in Kyiv. 79 504 214 Previously in trend: Captured Russian special forces operatives

Ukrainian doctors managed to see Savchenko Ukrainian doctors had been waiting by the jail for about seven hours, but were not allowed to visit the pilot yesterday. 27 579 214 Ukrainian Politics

“We were repeatedly proposed to exchange Russian GRU operatives for Savchenko,” - Advisor to the SBU Chairman Advisor to the Chairman of the Security Service of Ukraine Yurii Tandit said that he was repeatedly contacted with the proposal to exchange Nadiya Savchenko for the two detained operatives of the Russian General Staff Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU). 51 803 212 Previously in trend: Captured Russian special forces operatives

плен боевик “Russians treat us as cannon fodder. We are paid with delays or not paid at all,” captive Russian militants say. VIDEO Interrogation video of three former ‘Luhansk People’s Republic’ mercenaries, who had been captured, was uploaded on the Internet. They talk about how they were trained by Russian instructors and that Russia has been sending weapons to the Ukrainian territory. 145 450 212 Previously in trend: Evidence of Russian aggression in Ukraine

ато Terrorists Released 4 Special Forces Soldiers from Kirovohrad 4 Ukrainian soldiers were released from captivity of the terrorists of the so-called Luhansk People's Republic. 61 483 211 Ukrainian Politics

ато боец счастье Ukrainian soldiers told about capture of two Russian military servicemen. VIDEO Ukrainian soldiers told about the battle in which two Russian military servants were captured. 73 705 209 Previously in trend: Evidence of Russian aggression in Ukraine

варфоломеева Journalist Maria Varfolomeieva released from terrorists' captivity, - Poroshenko Ukrainian journalist Maria Varfolomeieva has been released from the captivity of terrorists. 87 376 208 Ukrainian Politics

PACE urges Russia and Russian-backed militants to release Ukrainian POWs and hostages The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has called on Russia and Russian-backed militants to release all prisoners of war and create a mechanism to search persons that have become missing during the conflict in Ukraine, reads a PACE resolution adopted on Thursday on the basis of a report by Jim Sheridan (United Kingdom, SOC). 8 669 208 Previously in trend: Russian aggression against Ukraine

"90 out of 124 days I spent in a two by one meter cell with no windows. The terrorists tried to get me to switch to their side promising the rank of Colonel," - Liberated ‘Cyborg’ Oleh Kuzminykh After his release from the terrorist captivity commander of the 90th airmobile battalion of the 81st Airborne Brigade Oleh Kuzminykh told the press how the militants tried to persuade him to switch to the “DPR” side. 47 147 206 Previously in trend: Fighting for the Donetsk airport

"DPR" militants killed State Fiscal Service employee and captured two traffic policemen - Head of Donetsk region police On June 15, 2015 two traffic police officers of the Donetsk region - Lieutenant Colonel Vitalii Balbekov and Major Oleksii Shevchenko sis not show up at work. On the same day, their wives came to the police stating that their husbands left home and did not return. 85 413 205 Previously in trend: Russian aggression against Ukraine

панов "I also want the whole world to hear that we don’t leave our people behind!" - wife of FSB-detained Yevhen Panov appeals to Poroshenko. DOCUMENT (in Ukrainian) The wife of Yevhen Panov, who was detained by the Russian security forces in Crimea and charged with plotting terrorist attacks on the peninsula occupied by Russia, called on President Petro Poroshenko and MP Iryna Herashchenko to make every effort to liberate her husband. 79 910 202 Previously in trend: Russian aggression against Ukraine

аудио боевики tapping militants "There is a Ukrainian serviceman’s body. His wife identified him. But there are signs of torture" - militants are trying to hide traces of maltreatment of prisoners.. AUDIO A recording evidencing that militants torture captured Ukrainian soldiers was uploaded on the web. 84 773 201 Previously in trend: Russian aggression against Ukraine

клых Klykh claims tortures by beating, electric current and psychotropic agents in Russian prison Ukrainian Stanislav Klykh abducted in Russia, says he was tortured and pumped with psychotropic agents in Russian prison in order to make him testify. 62 069 201 Ukrainian Politics

Donbas militant leaders to release two captive women "as goodwill gesture" “DPR” and “LPR” militant leaders Alexander Zakharchenko and Igor Plotnitsky announced their intention to hand over two Ukrainian female prisoners to non-affiliated MP Nadiia Savchenko "as a gesture of goodwill." 34 973 200 Incidents

савченко "Female Sniper! You fired at us!" - new video of Nadiia Savchenko's capture by "LPR" militants. VIDEO A video has been posted on Open Russia website, showing a small part of the battle in which "LPR" militants captured Nadiia Savchenko. 126 321 199 Ukrainian Politics

плен террористы сепаратисты оккупанты Heroes of Donetsk Airport Who Captured Six Separatists Did Not Receive Any Medal. "Someone in Kyiv Would Rather Die Than Medal Them“. PHOTOS One can often find all sorts of stories of various eyewitnesses on the internet about one of the most striking episodes of the airport defense - the capture of six valuable separatist-gunners. 102 470 198 Previously in trend: Battle for Donetsk

"Lists should be updated as they are not correct now," - Savchenko on lists of POWs and MIA Lists of Ukrainian fighters who have been captured (POW) or went missing in action (MIA) in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, published by independent MP Nadiia Savchenko, are incorrect. This information will be updated. 18 849 195 Previously in trend: Russian aggression against Ukraine

плен колодий ''Cyborg'' Taras Kolodii released from captivity, - Poroshenko The fighter spent two years in Russian terrorist captivity. 103 354 192 Ukrainian Politics

JFO scouts eliminate Russian mercenary, capture three more in raid near Holmivskyi village. PHOTOS JFO scouts eliminate Russian mercenary, capture three more in raid near Holmivskyi village. PHOTOS A subversive and reconnaissance group of the 46th separate assault 'Donbas' battalion of the Ukrainian Joint Forces captured three enemy troops during a short clash late on May 20. 48 151 191 Incidents

плен Eight wounded Ukrainian soldiers exchanged near Donetsk - media Eight wounded ATO soldiers were released from terrorists’ captivity not far from Donetsk. 63 867 188 Incidents

Poroshenko: Militants Hold 151 Ukrainian Soldiers Hostage The militants in eastern Ukraine are currently holding 151 Ukrainian servicemen as prisoners. 15 039 186 Ukrainian Politics

Savchenko published lists of Ukrainian prisoners she visited in Donbas. PHOTO MP Nadiia Savchenko published the lists of Ukrainian prisoners she visited in the occupied Donbas. 54 895 185 Previously in trend: Russian aggression against Ukraine