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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

captured Soldiers of 5th SHMB captured two occupiers, seized Russian electronic warfare system and FPV drones. VIDEO The pilots of the 5th Separate Heavy Mechanised Brigade, having lost their drone in the grey zone, decided to return it. As a result, they returned with two captured occupiers, an enemy electronic warfare device "Kapyushon", three enemy Mavics and four enemy FPV drones. 7 382 9 Previously in trend: Situation at front Destruction of the occupiers

полонені Ukraine is aware of more than 150 places where Russia holds prisoners of war together with civilians - Coordination Center In Russia and the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, there are more than 150 places where Russians are holding Ukrainian prisoners of war along with civilians. 684 8

війна Ukrainian Defense Forces replenish exchange fund and capture two occupiers in Zaporizhzhia direction. VIDEO Ukrainian defenders replenished the exchange fund in the Zaporizhzhia direction. 8 673 8 Previously in trend: War

дпсу Ukraine returned 19 border guards from captivity in the Russian Federation, - SBGS Medical examination and rehabilitation await the freed border guards. 3 872 8 War in Ukraine

Defence forces captured two occupiers Defense Forces capture two former Russian prisoners: "They pressured me, blackmailed me with my freedom". VIDEO Fighters of the Forpost border brigade captured two Russian soldiers in the Vovchansk sector. Both were former prisoners forced into the war: they were threatened with additional years behind bars if they refused. 3 196 8 Previously in trend: Situation at front

війна Occupier surrendered to our fighters in order not to be eliminated by Russian kamikaze drones. VIDEO Andriy Kanov is a native of the Komi Republic of the Russian Federation. The occupier served in the 25th Brigade, 6th Army of the Russian Armed Forces. His unit fell victim to fire as a result of a lack of coordination between assaultmen and UAV operators. They were eliminated by their own drones. 10 632 8 Previously in trend: War

Trial of captured Aidar fighters in Russia 18 captured Aidar fighters on trial in Russia, face 20–24 years In Russia’s Rostov-on-Don, 18 captured fighters from the Aidar battalion are on trial, facing between 20 and 24 years in prison. 3 008 8 Previously in trend: Sentences for Ukrainians in the Russian Federation

полонені Zelensky called for exchange of prisoners in format "all for all" President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky called for the exchange of prisoners with Russia on the principle of "all for all", as well as the release of all adults and children deported to Russia. 3 329 8 Previously in trend: War

ворог,полон,окупант Soldiers of National Guard captured 7 ruscists in eastern direction. PHOTOS The National Guardsmen, who are performing tasks in one of the eastern directions, captured 7 occupiers. 11 744 8 Previously in trend: War

POW FPV drone crew commander of 414th Separate Brigade "Magyar Birds" captures occupier using UAV. VIDEO During a combat sortie, the crew commander of the FPV drone from the 414th separate brigade "Magyar Birds," call sign "Pain," captured a Russian occupier using the drone. 3 392 8

прикордонники 4 border guards returned from Russian captivity. PHOTO Four border guards returned from Russian captivity. 3 276 8 Previously in trend: War

війна National Guard fighters captures Russian invader in Kharkiv direction. VIDEO Soldiers of the 13th Brigade of the National Guard "Charter" captured a Russian invader in the Kharkiv direction of the frontline. 7 047 8 Previously in trend: War

зона,неволя,тюрма,колонія Ukraine has no official information about places of detention of prisoners, - Coordination Headquarters The Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War does not have official information about the places of detention of captured Ukrainian defenders but is making efforts to release servicemen from all places of detention where they are held captive. 1 208 8 Previously in trend: Russian aggression against Ukraine War

Україна повернула з полону РФ 13 оборонців Азовсталі 13 Azovstal defenders returned from Russian captivity - Coordination Headquarters As a result of the 54th prisoner exchange, 88 privates and sergeants and 7 officers were released from Russian captivity. 4 583 8 Previously in trend: Prisoner swap

war Soldiers of Ranger Brigade stop enemy’s attack in Vovchansk direction. VIDEO In the eastern sector, Russian troops continue unsuccessful attempts to break through the defences of the Ukrainian military. Another enemy attack in the Vovchansk direction was stopped by the 71st separate hunting ranger brigade, effectively using drones, artillery and small arms. 4 265 8 Previously in trend: War

SSU exposes four torturers of Armed Forces of Ukraine in Luhansk region Ukrainian prisoners tortured in Luhansk region: four Russian torturers exposed, - SSU. PHOTO The Security Service of Ukraine has served a notice of suspicion to four former employees of the penal colony in Sukhodilsk who, after the occupation of Luhansk region, collaborated with the enemy and participated in the torture of Ukrainian soldiers. 2 580 8 Previously in trend: Torture of POWs in Russian prisons

плен Karandieiev: 32 representatives of Ukrainian media are in Russian captivity The acting Minister of Culture and Information Policy Rostyslav Karandieiev said that 32 representatives of the Ukrainian media are currently being held captive by the Russians. 950 7 Society

Defence forces showed footage of the liberation of Sichneve in Dnipropetrovsk region Defence forces eliminated 50 occupiers and captured another 8 in village of Sichneve in Dnipropetrovsk region. VIDEO The Ukrainian Defence Forces have released footage of successful assault operations by the 141st Separate Mechanised Brigade in the village of Sichneve in the Dnipropetrovsk region. The operation resulted in significant enemy losses. Soldiers of the "Shkval" assault unit eliminated 50 Russian invaders, and eight more were taken prisoner. 5 702 7 Previously in trend: Situation at front

обмін Another 36 citizens of Ukraine returned home from captivity Another exchange of prisoners took place. 3 631 7 War in Ukraine

військовополонені,обмін Servicemen released from captivity will be rehabilitated according to Western methods - Ministry of Defense Soldiers who were in Russian captivity will undergo a full cycle of recovery and rehabilitation, worked out according to Western methods together with foreign specialists. 630 7 Society

війна Soldiers of 3rd SAB mopped up enemy positions and captured three Russian invaders in Kharkiv region. VIDEO At dawn, the soldiers of the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade entered the position where the occupiers had dug in and engaged in close combat under fire from enemy thermobaric ammunition. 8 793 7 Previously in trend: War

окупанти,полонені For military of Russian Federation who want to surrender, phone number was published - Ministry of Defense The Ministry of Defense has released a telephone number for Russian servicemen wishing to surrender. 5 912 7 Previously in trend: War

полонені Occupiers beat, put on chair with electric current, and then sent for 30 days to colony of one of representatives of village power, - Denysov Shocking testimonies continue to be received from Ukrainian citizens who managed to escape from the captivity of the occupiers and who witnessed the war crimes of pro-Russian mercenaries. 3 556 7 Previously in trend: War

Viktoriia, Roshchyna In Taganrog pretrial detention centre, Roschyna tried to cut her veins in front of guards to get psychologist to see her, - former prisoner A Ukrainian man released from Russian captivity, known by the pseudonym "Brytva," said that journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna was subjected to psychological pressure while being held in a Taganrog detention centre, was repeatedly placed in solitary confinement, and attempted to harm herself after being denied access to a psychologist. 3 786 7 Previously in trend: Death of Victoria Roshchyna

Russian surrenders to drone Occupier raises his hands up and surrenders to Ukrainian drone. VIDEO The occupier raised his hands up in the air and surrendered to the Ukrainian drone. 4 125 7 Previously in trend: captured occupiers

хрест,червоний Red Cross managed to get to places of Ukrainian prisoners’ detention in Russia International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) has recently visited places of Ukrainian prisoners’ detention on territory of RF. 3 647 7 Previously in trend: Russian aggression against Ukraine War

аслін,піннер,саадун Ukraine demands from Russian Federation humane treatment of Ukrainian prisoners of war, - MFA Ukraine condemns the wrongful treatment of Ukrainian prisoners of war by the Russian Federation, in particular the use of them for its own political purposes. 2 306 7 Previously in trend: War

Обмін полоненими Ukraine and Russia to hold major prisoner exchange today - Bloomberg Ukraine and the Russian Federation, with the mediation of the United Arab Emirates, are planning a major prisoner exchange. 6 214 7 Previously in trend: War

війна Marines replenish exchange fund near Vovchansk. VIDEO The soldiers of the 36th Separate Marine Brigade named after Rear Admiral Mykhailo Bilynskyi captured the occupier near Vovchansk. 12 493 7 Previously in trend: War

вмс,полонені Three marines returned from Russian captivity - Navy. PHOTO Three servicemen of a separate marine infantry battalion of the Navy of Ukraine were released from Russian captivity. 8 360 6 Previously in trend: Russian aggression against Ukraine War

полонені Soldiers of 28th SMB drive enemy assault groups out of their positions in Donetsk, some of Russians are being captured. VIDEO In Donetsk region, near Toretsk, soldiers of the Shkval (Squall) special rifle battalion and pilots of the 28th Separate Mechanised Brigade named after the Knights of the Winter Campaign eliminated several groups of Russian assaultmen, and another group of occupiers surrendered. 7 999 6 Previously in trend: War

вмс,тральщик,sandown 29-year-old Ukrainian marine was evacuated from occupied territory: he spent year and half in Russian captivity. VIDEO The Ukrainian Navy's Special Reconnaissance unit "Angels" rescued a 29-year-old Ukrainian marine from Russian captivity. To do so, they conducted a multi-stage special operation to evacuate him from the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine. 10 142 6

війна Soldiers of 5th Brigade capture Russian invader near Bakhmut. VIDEO During an operation to retake a lost position, soldiers of the 5th separate assault brigade near Bakhmut captured a Russian invader. The Ukrainian soldiers conducted a swift attack, surrounding the enemy and forcing him to surrender. 5 895 6 Previously in trend: War

З полону повернувся прикордонник із Борзни Віталій Шпитальний Vitalii Shpytalnyi, border guard from Chernihiv region, returned from captivity after holding his position single-handedly for three days. PHOTO During the exchange, Vitalii Shpytalnyi, a border guard from the city of Borzna in the Chernihiv region, who was captured in May 2024, returned home from Russian captivity. Prior to this, the soldier had single-handedly been holding his position for three days. 3 385 6 Previously in trend: Rescuing soldiers from captivity

daughter of a Ukrainian released from captivity Father of girl who was recently returned from occupation was also freed from captivity. VIDEO The father of a girl who had recently been returned from the TOT was released from enemy captivity. 4 120 6 Previously in trend: Prisoner swap

An occupier from Mozdok spoke about the mountains of corpses and Russian losses near Uspenivka Occupier joined assault troops instead of going to prison — now he is giving "interviews" in captivity. VIDEO The occupier Sergey Shevkuta from Mozdok, Russia, who was facing a prison term for "weed", found himself in the realities of typical Russian assaults. 2 526 6 Previously in trend: captured occupiers

POWs How Ukrainian Defence Forces managed to neutralise group of Russian stormtroopers and find out information from occupiers. VIDEO Border guards of the "Forpost" brigade in the Vovchansk sector captured six Russian stormtroopers. 6 599 6 Previously in trend: War

National Flag Day Woman who spent six years in captivity in Russia has been returned to Ukraine. VIDEO Ukrainian civilian Svitlana, released from Russian captivity, met her daughters for the first time after more than six years of separation. 4 061 6 Previously in trend: Return from occupation

Our soldiers eliminated the enemy’s position and took a prisoner "Enei" fighters destroy enemy positions in Toretsk and capture occupier: "What are you, cop?". VIDEO A unit of the "Enei" Special Operations Battalion of the National Police’s "Liut" Brigade successfully completed a combat mission in Toretsk, Donetsk region. 6 844 6 Previously in trend: Situation at front

Ukraine and Russia to exchange prisoners on June 9, 2025 Mariupol defenders who spent more than 3 years in captivity are among those liberated today - Coordination Center Today, June 9, 2025, the first stage of the prisoner exchange took place under the agreements in Istanbul. 3 851 6 Previously in trend: Prisoner swap

Ukrainian Armed Forces capture Russians in Toretsk direction Ukrainian defenders captured another group of Russian occupiers in Toretsk direction. VIDEO Ukrainian troops captured another group of Russian occupants in the Toretsk direction. 5 629 6 Previously in trend: Situation in the Toretsk direction captured occupiers

фрост Terrorist attack in Olenivka colony. Sentenced to death Azov’s Frost. Part 2. VIDEO A 24-year-old machine gunner of "Azov" with codename "Frost" survived fierce battles in Mariupol, was sentenced to death by occupants, but survived captivity and returned home on exchange. 10 224 6 Previously in trend: War

війна Our soldiers replenished exchange fund with Russian invader on outskirts of Robotyne. VIDEO During the offensive, the Defence Forces continue to replenish the exchange fund. Thus, our fighters captured a Russian invader near the village of Robotyne, Zaporizhzhia region. 7 647 6 Previously in trend: War

assault Defence forces eliminate 8 occupiers during night assault in Donetsk region, capture 2 more. VIDEO Soldiers of the Bravo Special Forces Group, in cooperation with pilots and fire support, conducted a successful night assault on enemy positions in the Donetsk region. As a result, 8 enemy combatants were eliminated and two invaders were taken prisoner. The trenches were secured, and the enemy was demoralized. 6 454 5 Previously in trend: War

Mykolaienko on Russian captivity Former Kherson mayor Mykolaienko on Russian captivity: They beat us and fed us just enough so we wouldn’t starve to death. We picked nettles to get at least some vitamins Former Kherson Mayor Volodymyr Mykolaienko has lost 25 kilograms while in enemy captivity. 2 681 5 Previously in trend: Russians hold former mayor of Kherson captive

Four paratroopers captured 15 occupiers in the Kharkiv region Our paratroopers free two Ukrainian civilians and capture 15 Russian invaders in Kharkiv region. VIDEO Four of our servicemen from the Air Assault Forces carried out a successful operation in Kharkiv region. 6 820 5 Previously in trend: Situation at front

війна Mopping up trenches and neutralizing assault group of Russians by reconnaissance men of Rubizh Brigade of NGU in Luhansk region. VIDEO Reconnaissance men of the 4th Brigade of the NGU "Rubizh" near Makiivka, Luhansk region, cleared enemy trenches and neutralised a Russian assault group. 8 518 5 Previously in trend: War

полон,викрадення About 600 people were returned from captivity, among them about 100 civilians, others were military, - National Information Bureau To date, almost 600 people have been returned from captivity, including about 100 civilians and rest of them are military personnel. 1 731 5 Previously in trend: Russian aggression against Ukraine War