Ukraine's tactical operations have been successful in capturing numerous occupiers, as demonstrated by the 28th Separate Mechanized Brigade capturing infiltrators in Oleksiievo-Druzhkivka. Special Operation Forces have infiltrated enemy settlements and captured prisoners, ensuring strategic advantages. Additionally, reports of Russia preparing prisoner exchanges with Ukraine highlight ongoing diplomatic efforts. However, grim reports reveal that 406 Ukrainians have died in Russian captivity, with multiple forms of torture alleged. Despite these challenges, Ukraine has orchestrated multiple prisoner exchanges, highlighting the nation's commitment to securing the return of its servicemen and civilians held captive by Russian forces.
How effective have Ukraine's tactical operations been in capturing Russian occupiers?
Ukraine's tactical operations have been highly effective, with various military units capturing Russian occupiers consistently. Operations include capturing infiltrators attempting sabotage, preventing breaches at borders, and securing prisoners during conflicts in various regions such as Zaporizhzhia and Kharkiv.
What is known about the prisoner exchanges between Ukraine and Russia?
Prisoner exchanges between Ukraine and Russia have been a focal point, with Ukraine negotiating swaps to return its military personnel and civilians. The exchange formats include large-scale swaps like the 1,000-for-1,000 arrangement, demonstrating Ukraine's diplomatic endeavors to assure the safe return of its citizens.
What allegations of torture have been reported regarding Ukrainian captives in Russia?
Reports indicate that at least 406 Ukrainian captives have died in Russian custody, with allegations of 695 forms of torture used against prisoners. These grim reports shed light on severe human rights violations that captives endure, stressing the urgent need for international attention and human rights advocacy.
What diplomatic measures have been initiated to assist Ukrainian captives?
Efforts have included high-level diplomatic talks, international negotiations assisted by countries like the USA, and engagement of organizations such as the European Union to impose sanctions on facilities where torture occurs. These measures aim to increase pressure on Russian authorities to treat prisoners humanely and pursue systematic exchanges.
What is the current status of Ukrainian civilians in captivity since the conflict began?
Since the conflict's onset, the Coordination Headquarters reports over 8,050 Ukrainians have been returned from captivity. Still, the plight of those remaining captive remains a concerning issue, necessitating further international intervention and monitoring to secure their release and ensure their rights are protected.
News Captives
Prisoner exchange takes place: Ukraine brings 103 soldiers home. VIDEO&PHOTOS Today, 19 August 2026, another prisoner exchange took place between Ukraine and the Russian Federation. 3 930 17 Previously in trend: Prisoner swap
At least 375 Ukrainians died in Russian captivity. They were subjected to torture – Lubinets The deaths of at least 375 Ukrainian citizens in Russian captivity have now been officially confirmed. Their bodies were returned home as part of "on the shield" exchanges. They were Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilian hostages. 1 076 8 Previously in trend: Detention conditions of POWs Torture of POWs in Russian prisons
Russia manipulates prisoner lists, accusing Ukraine of refusing to take back its citizens – Lubinets. VIDEO Russia uses disinformation and manipulation of lists of prisoners of war as a tool of psychological pressure on Ukraine and the relatives of Ukrainian defenders. 659 2 Previously in trend: Ukrainians in Russian captivity
Special forces from DIU’s "BAT-13" and "ARATTA" units carried out raid on enemy positions and took Russian soldier prisoner. VIDEO Special forces from the Main Intelligence Directorate carried out a raid in an enemy-held settlement and captured a ruscist. 3 418 2 Previously in trend: captured occupiers
"He gave her red roses": occupier raped woman from Donetsk Oblast every night, - media. VIDEO For the first time in Ukraine, a Russian soldier held as a prisoner of war is standing trial on charges of sexually assaulting a civilian woman during the war. According to the investigation, the occupier raped a woman from the Donetsk region for almost two months, threatening to kill her. 11 008 27 Previously in trend: Atrocities and sexual violence in the occupied territories Investigation of Russian war crimes
"This evil must be defeated": civilian hostage Oleh Kotov has died after more than four years in Russian captivity Oleh Kotov, a former civilian hostage whom Russia illegally held captive for more than four years, died after returning to Ukraine. Following his release, doctors diagnosed him with cancer that had metastasized extensively. 4 964 5 Previously in trend: losses of Ukraine
Marines of 36th Separate Marine Brigade thwart staged Russian video about "capture" of settlement in Donetsk region and take two occupiers with tricolor prisoner. VIDEO Soldiers of the 36th Separate Marine Brigade named after Rear Admiral Mykhailo Bilynskyi thwarted another attempt by the Russian occupiers to produce a propaganda video purporting to show an advance in the Donetsk region. 3 857 8 Previously in trend: captured occupiers Russian propaganda
Unique "Khartiia" operation near Kupiansk: hero on shield and captured ruscist were evacuated on single UGV. VIDEO Soldiers from the 13th Brigade of the Ukrainian National Guard, ‘Khartiia’, carried out a unique evacuation operation near Kupiansk, using ground-based robotic systems to fulfil two important tasks simultaneously. 5 796 5 Previously in trend: captured occupiers Fighting in the Kupіansk direction Unmanned Ground Vehicles UGVs
SOF operators wake sleeping occupiers in hideouts and capture them without firing single shot. VIDEO Operators from a unit of Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces (SOF) captured two Russian servicemen without firing a single shot after discovering them in well-camouflaged hideouts. 6 071 12 Previously in trend: captured occupiers
Fighters of 6th SOF Regiment Rangers approach occupiers to distance of one meter, wipe out position and take two prisoner. VIDEO Operators from the Rangers special operations group of the 6th Regiment of the Special Operations Forces (SOF) carried out a successful raid on Russian positions in one of the operational sectors. 7 442 7 Previously in trend: Elimination of Russian occupying forces captured occupiers
Soldiers of 28th Separate Mechanized Brigade capture occupier who infiltrated Oleksiievo-Druzhkivka to film propaganda video. VIDEO Servicemen from a mobile fire group of the anti-aircraft missile battalion of the 28th Separate Mechanized Brigade named after the Knights of the Winter Campaign captured a Russian soldier in the Kostiantynivka sector. 4 836 5 Previously in trend: captured occupiers Russian propaganda
SOF fighters covertly infiltrated enemy settlement, carried out mop-up operation and took ruscist prisoner. VIDEO Operatives from Group ‘F’ of the 1st Detachment of the 144th Special Operations Forces Centre carried out a successful special operation in one of the operational sectors, during which they captured a Russian serviceman and cleared a designated sector of the settlement. 3 370 4 Previously in trend: captured occupiers
Fighters of Defence Intelligence’s International Legion clear occupiers’ positions near Stepnohirsk and capture ruscist. VIDEO Fighters of the Revenge Tactical Group of the International Legion of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine successfully cleared Russian positions near Stepnohirsk in the Zaporizhzhia region. 3 075 2 Previously in trend: Elimination of Russian occupying forces captured occupiers Fightings in the Zaporizhzhia direction foreign volunteers in the armed forces
Russian media reported that Russia is preparing new prisoner exchange with Ukraine Russia has announced that it is preparing a new prisoner-of-war exchange with Ukraine. At the same time, the Ukrainian side has not officially confirmed that a new phase of the exchange will take place in the near future. 1 108 1 Previously in trend: Prisoner swap
406 Ukrainians died in Russian captivity, hundreds of forms of torture used against captives – Prokopenko At least 406 Ukrainian military personnel and civilians have died in Russian captivity since the start of the full-scale invasion. At the same time, the Russian occupiers subject Ukrainian prisoners of war to 695 forms of torture. 1 489 7 Previously in trend: Torture of POWs in Russian prisons
Special forces from 73rd Naval Special Operations Centre seized enemy boat and took five occupiers prisoner. VIDEO Soldiers from the 73rd Naval Centre of the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ Special Operations Forces carried out a successful operation on the Dnipro, during which they seized an enemy boat and took five Russian soldiers prisoner. 10 491 16 Previously in trend: captured occupiers
Hart Brigade routs Russian assault groups in Kharkiv region: 43 occupiers eliminated, two captured. VIDEO Servicemen of the Hart Brigade thwarted another series of assaults by Russian forces in the north of the Kharkiv region, inflicting significant losses on the enemy. 5 452 2 Previously in trend: Destruction of Russian equipment Elimination of Russian occupying forces captured occupiers Repelling assault
Soldiers from 225th Assault Regiment captured 64 Russian occupiers in Zaporizhzhia sector. VIDEO In the Zaporizhzhia sector, Ukrainian defenders have significantly bolstered their pool of prisoners to be exchanged by taking 64 Russian occupiers captive. 15 431 23 Previously in trend: captured occupiers
EU imposes sanctions against leadership of Mordovian colony where Ukrainian prisoners were tortured The European Union has imposed sanctions against the leadership of Penal Colony No. 10 in Mordovia, where Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilians are being unlawfully detained and tortured. Seven officials from the Russian prison system have been added to the sanctions list. 660 5 Previously in trend: Torture of POWs in Russian prisons
Failed attempt to breach border leaves 32 occupiers eliminated and 5 captured. VIDEO Last week, Russian occupation forces repeatedly attempted to breach Ukraine’s state border in the Southern Slobozhanskyi sector, using small infantry groups across several sections. 6 567 4 Previously in trend: Elimination of Russian occupying forces captured occupiers
Prisoners were tortured, raped and left to freeze to death: two Russian sadists from Colony No. 7 in Vladimir region of Russian Federation have been identified. VIDEO The Office of the Prosecutor General has announced that charges have been brought against two Russian executioners who turned the detention of Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilian hostages at Penal Colony No. 7 (in the village of Pakino, Vladimir region, Russian Federation) into a systematic... 3 003 7 Previously in trend: Investigation of Russian war crimes
Ukrainian drone equipped with loudspeaker forced three occupiers to surrender: "What’s the matter, you idiot? Don’t you want to live?". VIDEO Unique footage and accounts of a successful psychological and assault operation carried out by Ukrainian defenders in the Pokrovsk sector have been published online. Using a drone fitted with a loudspeaker, Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers managed to take three Russian invaders prisoner without... 5 215 6 Previously in trend: Combat operations in the Pokrovsk direction captured occupiers
Suspicions against Russian war criminals: with assistance of Defence Intelligence, two further torturers of Ukrainian prisoners of war have been identified. PHOTO With the assistance of the Defence Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine and under the procedural guidance of the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine, operatives from the Criminal Investigation Department of the National Police of Ukraine and investigators from the Main... 2 177 2 Previously in trend: Torture of POWs in Russian prisons
Fighters from "Skelia" regiment captured occupier using drone in Pokrovsk direction. VIDEO In the Pokrovsk sector of Donetsk Oblast, drone operators from the 425th Separate Assault Regiment ‘Skelia’ of the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ Land Forces carried out a successful operation to capture a serviceman from the Russian occupation forces. A quadcopter equipped with an audio alert system... 27 024 14 Previously in trend: Combat operations in the Pokrovsk direction captured occupiers
This year, Ukraine has already returned 1,596 people from Russian captivity, Zelenskyy says. VIDEO Ukraine continues to bring people back from Russian captivity, including 1,596 people who have already been freed this year. 691 12 Previously in trend: Prisoner swap
Ukraine has secured return of four sailors who were being held by Iran following seizure of their vessel in Strait of Hormuz, - Tykhyi Ukrainian diplomats have secured the release of four Ukrainian sailors who had been held by members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps since April this year, following the seizure of their vessel in the Strait of Hormuz. 529 0 Previously in trend: Closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran
Ukraine and South Korea to discuss fate of North Korean military prisoners, - Reuters On June 30, Ukraine and South Korea will hold talks regarding prisoners of war from the DPRK who fought on Russia’s side in the war against Ukraine. 1 686 3 Previously in trend: DPRK soldiers in the Kursk region prisoners of war of the DPRK
Ukraine has already returned more soldiers from Russian captivity than are still in captivity, - Lubinets The number of Ukrainian defenders who have already been released from Russian captivity currently exceeds the number of servicemen who remain in captivity. 1 142 8 Previously in trend: Prisoner swap
Three ruscists raise hands and follow Ukrainian drone to surrender. VIDEO Drone operators of the Defense Forces used a UAV to spot three Russian soldiers and forced them to lay down their arms. 3 585 9 Previously in trend: captured occupiers Drone operators
Among 33 Azov servicemen released today, only two are defenders of Mariupol – Prokopenko During today’s prisoner exchange, 33 servicemen of the 1st Corps of the National Guard of Ukraine (NGU) "Azov" returned to Ukraine. At the same time, only two of them are fighters of the separate special purpose detachment "Azov" who defended Mariupol. 3 950 10 Previously in trend: Prisoner swap
Active Operations Department fighter shows footage of clearing enemy positions and capturing 7 ruscists. VIDEO Footage has been released online showing the Active Operations Department’s troops conducting a sweep of a wooded area during an attempted infiltration by Russian infantry. 7 416 22 Previously in trend: Elimination of Russian occupying forces captured occupiers
Russians finished off their own wounded with drones, whom Ukrainian Armed Forces had evacuated using a ground robot. VIDEO Russian military personnel have once again demonstrated cruelty towards their own soldiers by killing them after they were taken prisoner. According to Censor.NET, citing the unit’s press service, during combat operations, soldiers from the 33rd Separate Assault Regiment used a drone to remotely... 11 480 14 Previously in trend: captured occupiers
Ukrainian defenders of 65th Separate Mechanised Brigade took occupiers prisoner, who had been moving 13 km along gas pipeline in Orikhiv direction. VIDEO Soldiers from the 65th Separate Mechanised Brigade captured Russian commandos who were attempting to infiltrate via a gas pipeline in the Orikhiv sector. 14 894 46 Previously in trend: captured occupiers Hostilities in the Orikhiv direction
Russian forces used drone to kill two of their comrades whilst they were attempting to surrender to AFU. VIDEO Aerial reconnaissance by the "Pegasus" strike UAV company of the 1st Separate Heavy Mechanised Brigade has captured footage of two occupiers attempting to surrender. 8 905 10 Previously in trend: Drones against occupiers captured occupiers Elimination of Russian occupiers
1,000-for-1,000 prisoner exchange is being prepared, Coordination Headquarters has handed over lists to Russian side, – Zelenskyy A prisoner exchange between Ukraine and Russia on a 1,000-for-1,000 basis is being prepared. The Ukrainian Coordination Headquarters has already handed over lists of 1,000 people to be exchanged to the Russian side. 3 026 18 Previously in trend: Prisoner swap
Fighters from 8th Special Operations Regiment cleared forest strip and eliminated occupier who refused to surrender. VIDEO Ukrainian infantrymen from the 8th Regiment of the Special Operations Forces, part of the "UA_REG TEAM" unit, carried out a sweep of wooded terrain on one section of the front line. 6 005 5 Previously in trend: Elimination of Russian occupying forces Close-quarters combat
Zelenskyy confirms three-day ceasefire with Russia and POW swap, thanks Trump for diplomatic involvement As part of the US-mediated negotiation process, Russia has agreed to hold a POW swap in the format of 1,000 for 1,000. A ceasefire is also to be established on May 9, 10 and 11. 9 001 129 Previously in trend: Prisoner swap ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia Zelenskyy about ceasefire
Facts of enemy’s killing of 306 Ukrainian prisoners of war since start of full-scale invasion have been documented, - Office of Prosecutor General Since the start of Russia’s full-scale war, 116 criminal investigations have documented instances of the occupiers’ intentional killing of 306 Ukrainian prisoners of war. 647 0 Previously in trend: Execution of Ukrainian POWs
China calls on Ukraine to treat prisoners of war who fought on side of Russian Federation humanely, — Chinese Foreign Ministry China has commented on the detention of Chinese citizens in Ukraine. 7 610 53 Previously in trend: Chinese mercenaries in Russian army
Special forces of DIU’s Legion capture six occupiers in Zaporizhzhia Oblast: "Face down! Relax, f#ck. Nobody will touch you!". VIDEO Military intelligence special forces carried out an effective operation to eliminate and capture enemy personnel on the southern front. As reported by Censor.NET, a video of the combat work of fighters from the Legion unit of the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense has... 7 713 8 Previously in trend: Fightings in the Zaporizhzhia direction
Fighters of Rubizh Brigade capture occupier scout who was hiding in Bilytske. VIDEO A reconnaissance group of the Special Purpose Reconnaissance Company of the 4th Operational Assignment Brigade Rubizh of the National Guard of Ukraine captured a Russian occupier during a clearing operation in buildings in the settlement of Bilytske, Donetsk Oblast. 4 399 2 Previously in trend: captured occupiers Situation in the Donetsk region
Five occupiers were captured by fighters from "Chervona Kalyna" brigade during sweep of private homestead in Pokrovsk direction. VIDEO Ukrainian defenders continue to successfully clear settlements near the front line and take enemy personnel prisoner. According to Censor.NET, in the Pokrovsk direction, fighters from the special reconnaissance company of the ‘Chervona Kalyna’ brigade captured five Russian occupiers. 4 727 4 Previously in trend: Combat operations in the Pokrovsk direction
Ukraine preparing new prisoner exchanges – Zelenskyy Ukraine continues preparations for new prisoner exchanges with Russia, with documents and lists already prepared and negotiations ongoing. 883 12 Previously in trend: Prisoner swap
Most prisoners returned today were illegally held in Chechnya – Coordination Headquarters. PHOTOS Today, the 73rd prisoner exchange between Ukraine and Russia took place. It became a continuation of the Easter exchange and the implementation of the relevant agreements. 3 708 3 Previously in trend: Prisoner swap
"SKELIA" regiment assault troops capture Russian mercenary from Kenya in Kupiansk. VIDEO Warriors of the 425th Separate Assault Regiment "SKELIA" have captured a Russian mercenary who turned out to be a Kenyan citizen. 4 906 17 Previously in trend: African mercenaries of Russian army
Russian bows and crosses himself before Ukrainian drone, asking to be taken prisoner. VIDEO Aerial reconnaissance by Ukrainian forces continues to demonstrate not only high effectiveness in eliminating the enemy but also the ability to capture prisoners remotely. A video of a successful operation by fighters of the SKELIA Separate Assault Regiment near the village of Udachne in the... 9 175 9 Previously in trend: Situation in the Pokrovsk direction captured occupiers
Reconnaissance troops from Third Army Corps exposed infiltrated ruscists in forest. VIDEO Soldiers from the Third Army Corps cleared out enemy infantry that had infiltrated the forest within their area of responsibility. 6 854 5 Previously in trend: Elimination of Russian occupying forces Close-quarters combat captured occupiers
Two Ukrainian assault troops from 1st SAR captured eight Russian soldiers by "smoking them out" of dugout. VIDEO Footage has been published online showing assault troops from the 1st Separate Assault Regiment clearing an enemy dugout. 5 664 11 Previously in trend: captured occupiers
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