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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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Videos news captivity

інтерв'ю українського воїна Kursk operation: Ukrainian scouts from 82nd SAAB are released from captivity, capturing 5 Russian invaders. VIDEO In August 2024, during the Kursk offensive, an event occurred that impresses with its out-of-the-box thinking. A group of four aerial reconnaissance men of the 82nd separate airborne assault brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, while performing a combat mission, unexpectedly encountered enemy forces and were captured. The senior pilot, codenamed "Bardak," was not at a loss: using psychological pressure and a quick assessment of the situation, he convinced the Russian military that they... 28 601 44 Previously in trend: War

полонені окупанти Russian soldiers explained their mission in war: "Uncle Vovochka wanted to grab more land for himself". VIDEO During the day, border guards of the 4th Commandant's Office captured two occupiers who managed to survive the "meat assaults" on our positions in the Kupiansk direction. Both are private soldiers, riflemen - representatives of the 1st Tank Army of the 15th Separate Motorised Rifle Brigade. 11 987 29 Previously in trend: War

російські полонені Our paratroopers capture 26 occupiers in Kursk region: "9 days of training, machine gun shoved, 4 days in woods and run and fight". VIDEO Halychyna paratroopers continue to replenish the exchange fund by capturing Russian soldiers in the Kursk region. Thus, during one of the unsuccessful enemy assaults, the soldiers of the 80th Air Assault Brigade eliminated a large number of the enemy, and those who survived decided to surrender. 15 213 49 Previously in trend: War

російський полонений Luhansk Guard leader in captivity: interview with active participant in 2014 pro-Russian riots. VIDEO A Russian invader has surrendered to the soldiers of the Freedom Battalion of the 4th Brigade of the National Guard. It is Herman Prokopiv, an active participant in the pro-Russian riots of 2014. He was the one who removed Ukrainian flags from administrative buildings in Luhansk and hung Russian tricolors. 15 594 32 Previously in trend: War

беруть у полон SOF fighters eliminate 14 occupiers, capture 3 more in Kursk region. VIDEO As a result of successful actions behind enemy lines in the Kursk region, SOF fighters eliminated 14 occupiers and captured 3 more. 11 565 5 Previously in trend: War

російський полонений Border guards captured Russian invader while repelling enemy attack in Kupiansk direction. VIDEO Fighters of the "Revenge" brigade captured a Russian soldier in the Kupiansk direction while repelling an enemy attack. The occupier surrendered, explaining that he "decided to hide from the command." 7 520 2 Previously in trend: War

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. 5 871 6 Previously in trend: War

війна Our defenders captured Russian marines in Kursk region. VIDEO Ukrainian defenders in the Kursk region captured occupants from the 155th Marine Brigade of the Russian Pacific Fleet. 25 031 61 Previously in trend: War

російські полонені Azov Brigade fighters capture 17 Russian servicemen in Toretsk direction. VIDEO While repelling enemy assaults near New York, fighters of the 12th Azov Special Forces Brigade, together with adjacent units, captured 17 soldiers of the Russian Armed Forces. 17 006 53 Previously in trend: War

полонений Border guards captured occupier who was screaming for help: "I was abandoned!". VIDEO During a battle with the enemy, the soldiers came across an invader who was shouting for help. Taking the chance, the Russian serviceman came out with his hands up and was captured, after which he was subsequently handed over to the competent authorities to replenish the exchange fund. 9 757 72 Previously in trend: War

російські полонені Soldiers of NGU Brigade "Spartan" captured five Russian invaders who wanted to take up our positions. VIDEO Soldiers of the 3rd Operational Brigade Spartan of the NGU captured 5 Russian invaders. 10 178 1 Previously in trend: War

російський полонений Black mercenary of Russian army begs for mercy from Ukrainian drone operator and later surrenders. VIDEO Soldiers of the 33rd separate mechanised brigade captured a black soldier of the Russian army in the Kurakhove direction of the frontline. 21 933 74 Previously in trend: War

війна Russians fired at their own soldiers who were going to surrender in direction of Kurakhove. VIDEO Soldiers of the 33rd Separate Mechanised Brigade posted a video showing how Russian artillery covered their soldiers who were going to surrender to the Ukrainian defense forces in the Kurakhove area. 19 767 41 Previously in trend: 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. 7 981 6 Previously in trend: War

росіянин потрапив у полон Captured occupier regrets going to war: "I’m sorry, mom, that I signed this contract - I thought it would be better". VIDEO Vladislav Naumov, 19, a Russian prisoner of war. The occupier said that he was once imprisoned for drug trafficking and soon found himself at war in Ukraine. 6 960 19 Previously in trend: War

полон Russian soldier with disability was taken prisoner by our fighters, later occupier surrendered positions of his colleagues. VIDEO Alexei Likharev, a 24-year-old native of the Vologda region, has a second disability group, but the Russian was sent to the front. He was captured there. 13 856 19 Previously in trend: War

російський полонений Russian soldier about how they were intimidated: "They said that in Ukrainian captivity they cut off noses and ears. And testies too". VIDEO 18-year-old Alexey Tebel is a private in the 57th Motorised Rifle Brigade of the Russian Armed Forces. The Russian was taken prisoner and told how his fellow soldiers were trying to avoid deadly assaults. The occupier shared stories of bribes taken by commanders to withdraw soldiers from the battlefield and the amounts involved in these schemes.  11 800 26 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. 17 899 13 Previously in trend: War

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. 8 655 8 Previously in trend: War

полонені "Charter" fighters captured two occupiers in Kharkiv sector: "They brought me and left me like cannon fodder". VIDEO Soldiers of the 13th Brigade of the National Guard "Charter" captured Russian servicemen in the Kharkiv sector. 5 698 20 Previously in trend: War

полонений Soldiers of 225th SAB captured occupier in Kursk direction: "My entire platoon was killed, no one left". VIDEO The soldiers of the 225th Separate Assault Battalion replenished the exchange fund in the Kursk direction and captured the invader. 14 234 32 Previously in trend: War

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

рф,зсу,армія,боєць,розстріл,злочини Occupants shoot captured Ukrainian soldier. VIDEO The occupiers shot a wounded Ukrainian soldier who had been captured. 59 363 149 Previously in trend: War

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. 8 492 5 Previously in trend: War

полонений РФ Border guards capture Russian assaultman at Kupiansk direction. VIDEO Aerial reconnaissance men of the "Revenge" brigade captured a Russian assaultman in the Kupiansk direction. 7 642 2 Previously in trend: War

війна Captured Russian commander: "We have way out from Donbas only to kingdom come". VIDEO Nikolay Sur is a lieutenant in the Russian Armed Forces, another prisoner of war captured in battle by the soldiers of the 425th separate assault battalion "Skala" (Cliff). A native of Donetsk, Ukraine, he first took up arms in September 2015 when he was released from prison. In February 2024, he was mobilised. When he was serving near Novoazovsk and living in a pigsty, he was declared to have left the military unit without authorization and was assigned to the Storm Z unit.  15 400 31 Previously in trend: War

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. 10 608 8 Previously in trend: War

війна Our fighters captured four Russian invaders. VIDEO The Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to replenish the exchange fund in the course of counteroffensive actions. Russian occupiers captured by our soldiers were shown on the Internet. 19 475 40 Previously in trend: War

війна Captured Russian conscript in Kursk region: "Akhmatovites ran with us and told us to surrender". VIDEO Valeriy Musinov, a 20-year-old rifleman with the 488th Regiment, a native of Kostroma, was another conscript who was captured in the Kursk region. He had two months to go before he was due to be discharged, but during a Ukrainian offensive in the Kursk region, he and his comrades were abandoned by Russian officers. Musinov surrendered on orders of Kadyrov’s soldiers but he was confident that at best the Russians will be replaced and returned home after the "elite" - the Akhmatovites. 13 855 20 Previously in trend: War

війна Russian soldier surrenders to UAV operators from Presidential Brigade. VIDEO Soldiers of the 4th Mechanized Battalion of the Separate Presidential Brigade named after Hetman Bohdan Khmelnytskyi captured the occupier in the Lyman direction. 10 626 9 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. 7 037 8 Previously in trend: War

війна Our fighters captured 30 more occupiers in Kursk region. VIDEO Footage of new Russian POWs was shown on the network - they were captured in the Kursk region. 17 333 22 Previously in trend: War

полон,чеченці,кадировці Group of Kadyrov’s men surrendered to Ukrainian soldiers near town of Sudzha. VIDEO The Ukrainian project 'I Want to Live' has published a video with several dozen prisoners of war captured by Ukrainian soldiers in the Kursk region. Most of the prisoners claim to be from Grozny. 52 761 163

війна Our soldiers captured about 20 more occupants in Kursk region. VIDEO The network showed footage of new Russian prisoners - they were captured in the Kursk region. 24 942 104 Previously in trend: War

війна Ukrainian paratroopers capture occupier with help of drone. VIDEO Ukrainian paratroopers captured a Russian soldier: the entire operation was filmed by a drone. 9 807 9 Previously in trend: War

війна Ukrainian soldiers capture at least 20 more Russian fighters in Kursk region. VIDEO The "breakthrough" in the Kursk region resulted in several groups of Russian fighters being captured. This time, the number of prisoners is estimated to be at least 20. 23 157 54 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. 7 634 6 Previously in trend: War

Обмін полоненими 17 липня 2024 року Ukraine returns 95 Ukrainian servicemen from Russian captivity, - Zelenskyy. VIDEO&PHOTOS Today, on 17 July, 95 more Ukrainian defenders have been released from Russian captivity. 15 427 44 Previously in trend: Prisoner swap

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. 8 771 7 Previously in trend: War

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

окупанти,злочин,воєнний Occupiers shoot captured Ukrainian soldiers in Zaporizhzhia direction. VIDEO 21+ The occupiers shot at least two Ukrainian POWs in the Zaporizhzhia direction. 46 821 117 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. 10 123 6

полонений окупант Reconnaissance men of "Rubizh" brigade capture dozens of Russian occupants. VIDEO As a result of a successful military operation, several dozen occupants surrendered to the scouts of the Rubizh brigade. 31 937 47 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

війна Our soldiers captured a Russian commander in Kharkiv region. VIDEO In the Kharkiv region, Ukrainian soldiers captured the commander of a unit of one of the battalions of the 11th Army Corps, alias Bassist. It happened during the rotation of Russian units. 20 132 23 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. 12 473 7 Previously in trend: War

окупант,полонений Counterattack by marines of 36th brigade in Vovchansk: two companies of invaders were almost destroyed, two commanders were captured. VIDEO Marines of the 36th Brigade named after Rear Admiral Mykhailo Bilynskyi successfully counterattacked the occupiers in Vovchansk, Kharkiv region, and captured six occupants. 36 771 36 Previously in trend: War

Прикордонники взяли у полон окупанта у Вовчанську Hid from soldiers of Armed Forces for 21 days: border guards captured wounded occupier in Vovchansk. PHOTO Soldiers of the Stalevyi Kordon brigade captured a wounded Russian invader whom his comrades had abandoned in a building in Vovchansk. 13 843 25 Previously in trend: War