13920 visitors online
In the complex landscape of the ongoing conflict, the exchange and capture of hostages remain pivotal issues. Recent events highlight the 72nd prisoner swap, where 175 Ukrainian servicemen and 7 civilians were freed. The Coordination Headquarters has actively facilitated these exchanges, often coinciding with significant national dates, such as Easter. Meanwhile, operational stories unfold, with heroic captures by Ukrainian forces. For instance, Ukrainian unmanned aerial units have been instrumental in securing Russian soldiers' surrenders, showcasing technological superiority. As hostilities continue, the exchange of prisoners — now tallying over 8,000 returnees in four years — underscores diplomatic efforts to resolve humanitarian concerns amid hostilities.

How many Ukrainians have returned from Russian captivity so far?

As of the latest reports, over 8,000 Ukrainians have been returned from Russian captivity over the past four years. This significant number reflects ongoing diplomatic and military efforts to facilitate prisoner swaps amid the enduring conflict.

What was the outcome of the recent prisoner exchange between Ukraine and Russia?

The recent 72nd prisoner exchange resulted in the release of 175 Ukrainian servicemen and 7 civilians. This underscores continuous diplomatic negotiations and the importance of humanitarian efforts in the ongoing conflict.

What role do unmanned aerial units play in capturing hostages?

Unmanned aerial units, particularly Ukrainian drones, have played a critical role in compelling Russian soldiers to surrender. These advanced technologies provide strategic advantages in surveillance, negotiation, and reducing direct combat risks.

Are there any recent examples of Ukrainian forces capturing Russian soldiers?

Yes, Ukrainian forces consistently demonstrate tactical prowess in capturing Russian troops. For instance, special operations units successfully captured Russian soldiers during stabilization efforts in regions like Zaporizhzhia and Kharkiv, increasing negotiation leverage for exchanges.

What are the challenges faced in the prisoner exchange negotiations?

Negotiations for prisoner exchanges often face challenges such as political tensions, compliance with ceasefire agreements, and logistical complexities. Nonetheless, they remain a crucial component of diplomatic efforts to protect human rights amid conflict.

How does Ukraine ensure the safety of returned hostages?

After returning from captivity, Ukrainian authorities focus on providing medical care, psychological assistance, and reintegration programs to help former hostages recover from their ordeals and reintegrate into civilian life.

What impact do successful capture operations have on the conflict?

Successful capture operations by Ukrainian forces not only disrupt enemy communications and morale but also bolster Ukraine’s bargaining power in subsequent prisoner exchange negotiations, showcasing military and strategic competence.

show details

TOP news hostages

Росіяни стратили понад 110 українських військовослужбовців у місцях несвободи More than 100 Ukrainian prisoners were executed in Russian prisons - Prosecutor General’s Office During the surrender, the Russian occupiers killed 62 Ukrainian soldiers. Law enforcement officers are currently investigating 28 criminal cases over this fact. 4 354 5

полон,катування,тортури International coalition on return of civilian hostages should be created, - Lubinets The Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, Dmytro Lubinets, said that Ukraine is looking for new approaches to the release and return of civilian hostages and noted the need to create an international coalition on this issue. 437 5 Incidents

обмін First calls home from Ukrainian prisoners released yesterday: "Honey, everything is fine, I’m home" A video has been posted online showing footage of the first phone calls home of Ukrainian soldiers released from captivity yesterday. 3 446 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. 2 749 5 Previously in trend: Russians hold former mayor of Kherson captive

18 prisoners in 24 hours: operation by Azov Interbat fighters 18 ruscists were taken prisoner in 24 hours by soldiers of International Battalion of "Azov" Brigade Soldiers from the International Battalion of the 12th Brigade "Azov" captured 18 Russian occupiers in just one day. 6 152 5 Previously in trend: captured occupiers

Trial of Ukrainian prisoners in Russian Federation Russia violates international humanitarian law by issuing illegal sentences on Ukrainian defenders - Lubinets The Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets sent official letters to the UN and the ICRC to record violations of international humanitarian law by Russia. 793 5 Previously in trend: trial of Ukrainian prisoners in Russia

лубінець Lubinets: Sentences of so-called "L/DPR" courts to Ukrainian prisoners of war are a war crime So-called verdicts of L/DPR pseudo-courts against three Ukrainian servicemen, including human rights activist Maksym Butkevych, are yet another war crime of Russian Federation. 1 601 5 Society

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. 1 750 5 Previously in trend: Russian aggression against Ukraine War

Russian surrenders Russian bows and crosses himself before Ukrainian drone, asking to be taken prisoner 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 Pokrovsk direction has been published online. Censor.NET reports. 8 925 9 Previously in trend: Situation in the Pokrovsk direction captured occupiers

This winter, more than 100 occupiers laid down their arms and surrendered to the Defence Forces. Over 100 Russian soldiers surrendered thanks to work of Ukrainian unmanned aerial units A video has been posted online showing Russian soldiers surrendering to Ukrainian drones. 3 237 5 Previously in trend: captured occupiers Drone operators

Дмитро Лубінець Lubinets on exchange of prisoners: Consultations are underway with help of partners Ukraine, with the help of its partners, is holding consultations on the return of its citizens from Russian captivity. 880 5

обмін Exchange of captives "all for all" will take place in stages, and not in one day, - Coordination Headquarters If it is possible to reach an agreement with the Russian side on the exchange of prisoners "all for all", then the exchange will take place in stages. 5 152 5 Previously in trend: Prisoner swap

Zelenskyy’s address There is agreement that prisoner exchanges will continue next week, - Zelenskyy President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that prisoner exchanges would continue next week, at least this is the agreement. 863 5 Previously in trend: Prisoner swap Zelenskyy’s address

колонія,вязниця Russia holds thousands of civilian Ukrainians in colonies and pre-trial detention centers, there is virtually no connection with them - BBC investigation Thousands of Ukrainian civilians are being held in colonies and pre-trial detention centers in Russia, as well as in the territories occupied by Russia. They were detained during "filtration" or in the streets with the wording "for opposing the Special Military Operation" and locked up in detention centers and colonies without charges, investigations, trials, or release dates. Therefore, it is impossible to find them in an official way, and there are no mechanisms for their release, unlike prisoners of war. 2 178 5 Previously in trend: War

обмін 49 National Guard soldiers, 25 border guards, 26 Armed Forces servicemen returned home - Coordination Center The 51st prisoner exchange between Ukraine and Russia took place. 3 094 5 Previously in trend: Prisoner swap War

SSU starts preparations for exchange of 1000 for 1000 people SSU starts preparations for "1000 for 1000" prisoner exchange The Joint Center for the Coordination of the Search and Release of Prisoners of War at the Security Service of Ukraine has already begun preparations for a large-scale exchange of prisoners in the "1000 for 1000" format. 1 441 5 Previously in trend: Prisoner swap

ПАРЄ PACE adopts first resolution on missing persons, prisoners of war and civilians held captive by RF On Wednesday, October 2, at the autumn session of the PACE in Strasbourg, a resolution was adopted in which the Council of Europe for the first time raises the issue of the release and further rehabilitation of Ukrainian prisoners, and also demands that Russia comply with the provisions of international humanitarian law. 1 306 5

Soldiers captured a Russian "Negotiator" drone with precise strike on enemy dugout convinced surviving occupier to surrender to soldiers of 225th SAR Ukrainian defenders demonstrate to invaders that surrender is the only chance to survive, and refusal to do so leads to immediate and explosive consequences. According to Censor.NET, a video has appeared online showing the clearing of a landing zone by soldiers of the 225th Separate Assault Battalion. 2 815 5 Previously in trend: captured occupiers

оленівка Russian Federation still does not give Ukraine opportunity to visit site of terrorist attack in Olenivka, - Ombudsman Lubinets The Russian Federation still does not give Ukraine the opportunity to visit the place where the Russian army committed a war crime in Olenivka, Donetsk region, as a result of which Ukrainian prisoners of war died en masse. 630 5 Previously in trend: War

полонений окупант Border guards capture Russian soldier, eliminate about dozen more occupiers Soldiers of the border guard commandant's office "Shkval", 7th Carpathian border guard detachment, captured a Russian soldier, killed about a dozen occupiers, and wounded several in the area of Serebrianskyi forestry. 8 113 5 Previously in trend: War

костін,карстенс Kostin and special envoy of President of USA Carstens discussed the problem of illegal detention of civilians by aggressor The Prosecutor General of Ukraine discussed with the special envoy of the US President on hostage issues the complex problem of illegal detention of civilians by the aggressor. 615 5 Incidents

Three Russian troops surrender to Ukraine’s 155th brigade in Pokrovsk direction 155th Brigade fighters captured three occupiers in one of basements of Pokrovsk Aerial reconnaissance of the 155th Separate Mechanised Brigade recorded the movement of a group of occupiers in the Pokrovsk direction. 3 688 4 Previously in trend: Combat operations in the Pokrovsk direction captured occupiers

Ukraine hands over list for "1000-for-1000" prisoner exchange to Russia Ukraine has already handed over "1000-for-1000" exchange list to Russia – DIU Ukraine has submitted a list of names for a planned "1000-for-1000" prisoner swap. The list has already been handed over to the Russian side. 1 682 4 Previously in trend: Prisoner swap

Russian surrenders Pilots of "Madyar’s Birds" captured two occupiers with help of drone Operators of unmanned systems of the 414th Separate Brigade of Strike Unmanned Aerial Systems (SB SUAS) "Madyar Birds" carried out an operation to capture two Russian servicemen. According to Censor.NET, the process of surrendering the occupiers was fully recorded by objective control means. 4 339 4 Previously in trend: captured occupiers

військовополонені,обмін Ukraine creates information system on prisoners of war The Cabinet of Ministers adopted a Resolution approving the Regulation on the Information System for the Treatment of Prisoners of War. It is about the defenders of Ukraine who are in captivity of the aggressor state, civilian prisoners and missing persons. 1 028 4 Society

Border guards in the Pokrovsk direction captured Russians Border guards captured nine occupiers in Pokrovsk direction, - State Border Service of Ukraine On 24 August, on the Independence Day of Ukraine, soldiers of the rapid response of border commandant's office of the Chernihiv border detachment repelled another attack by Russian occupiers in the Pokrovsk direction. 6 585 4 Previously in trend: captured occupiers

Footage of GUR fighters clearing enemy positions in the Lyman direction DIU special unit "Artan" conducted clearance operation against occupiers in Lyman direction A video shared online shows the DIU special forces unit "Artan" storming and clearing enemy positions in the Lyman direction. 4 210 4 Previously in trend: Destruction of the occupiers captured occupiers Elimination of Russian occupiers

Civilians in Russian captivity Lubinets: 16,000 Ukrainian civilians held in Russian captivity Currently, the Russian Federation holds more than 16,000 Ukrainian civilians in captivity, and only 168 civilians have been released. 890 4

полонені Another 12 Ukrainians returned from captivity. Five of them are seriously injured 12 Ukrainians were released from captivity: 10 military and two civilians. 11 668 4 Photo News

звільнені полонені Today’s prisoner exchange was organized by UAE, - coordination headquarters Today, 14 September 2024, another prisoner exchange took place. It was organised with the help of the United Arab Emirates. 2 958 4

Soldiers of the 158th Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine captured five occupiers in their area of responsibility Soldiers of the 158th Brigade of Armed Forces of Ukraine captured two occupiers, while three others surrendered voluntarily Ukrainian defenders of the 158th Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine captured five Russian soldiers while performing combat operations. 3 897 4 Previously in trend: captured occupiers Drone operators

war Security Service of Ukraine releases exclusive footage of POW swap On June 9, Ukraine carried out another prisoner exchange. The Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) released exclusive photos and videos from the event, capturing emotional moments of Ukrainian defenders returning home. 5 936 4 Previously in trend: Situation at front

Kuleba: Ukraine demands release of Crimean Tatars Kuleba: Ukraine demands release of Crimean Tatars The prisoner swap is the most difficult part of all negotiations with Russia. As for the Crimean Tatars, the Ukrainian side seeks to release them, not exchange. 847 4 Ukrainian Politics

оленівка Exchange of prisoners continues, but many wounded during terrorist attack in Olenivka are not released. We found ourselves alone - "Families of Olenivka" Almost 8 months have passed since the Russian Federation committed a terrorist act against Ukrainian prisoners of war in Olenivka. Many seriously wounded prisoners have not yet been returned as part of the exchange. 2 481 4 Previously in trend: War

суд над українськими військовополоненими Russia opens criminal cases against 620 Ukrainian prisoners of war As of June 30, 2024, there are 620 Ukrainian prisoners of war against whom Russia is conducting criminal prosecution. 2 537 4

251 Ukrainians held captive in Donbas - Denisova 251 Ukrainians held captive in Donbas - Denisova Some 251 Ukrainians are being held captive by Russian-backed forces in the temporarily occupied territory of Donbas, Verkhovna Rada Human Rights Commissioner Liudmyla Denisova has said. 665 4 Previously in trend: Russian aggression against Ukraine Occupied territories - Crimea and Donbas

Lubinets on exchanging everyone for everyone Within framework of peace process, Ukraine insists on formula of "all for all" exchange, - Lubinets Within the framework of the peace process and humanitarian track, Ukraine insists on the return of all its citizens—prisoners of war, civilian hostages, and deported children. 479 4 Previously in trend: Prisoner swap Returning children from occupation

малкоч,шереф Turkish Ombudsman Malkoç to visit Russia to check conditions of detention and treatment of Ukrainian prisoners Turkey’s Chief Public Ombudsman, Şeref Malkoç, plans to visit Russia and visit the places where Ukrainian prisoners are held. He also wants to investigate whether the treatment of prisoners in Russia complies with international law. 907 4 World

Captive Ukrainians Unidentified persons call relatives of our prisoners and urge them to appeal to international organizations and White House - Coordination Center Another wave of calls to relatives of Ukrainian prisoners of war has been recorded. Unidentified persons introducing themselves as "representatives of the Russian authorities responsible for the exchange" are trying to exert pressure and manipulate the trust of the relatives of our defenders. 1 507 4 Previously in trend: Prisoner swap

полонені Soldiers of 22nd SMBr cleared enemy positions and captured occupier Soldiers of the 2nd mechanised battalion of the 22nd separate mechanised brigade cleared the enemy’s positions and captured the occupier in the Bakhmut sector. 10 120 4 Previously in trend: War

костін Kostin: More than 10,000 civilian Ukrainians are in Russian captivity Russians are holding more than 10,000 civilian Ukrainians in the occupied territories and in Russia. 1 053 4 Incidents

Ukraine demands that Russia release reporter Asieiev Ukraine demands that Russia release reporter Asieiev Ukraine used UN General Assembly as a playground to stress on the release of political prisoners illegally held in Russia. 976 3 Previously in trend: Ukrainian hostages in Russia

полонені Volunteers, veterans, scientists and teachers: Ukraine reminded that Russia continues to hold not only military but also civilians captive The Civilians in Captivity NGO has created a video reminding us that Russia continues to hold not only military personnel but also ordinary Ukrainians in captivity. It also created a video on what every Ukrainian citizen should know about prisoners of war. 1 204 3 Previously in trend: War

У 2024 році збільшилося кількість справ про розстріл військовополонених ЗСУ This year, number of proceedings on execution of Ukrainian POWs increased more than 4 times - Prosecutor General’s Office In 2024, compared to 2022 and 2023, the number of criminal proceedings opened over the shooting of captured Armed Forces soldiers by ruscists increased more than 4 times. 802 3

Ukraine, OSCE call on Russia to speed up prisoner swap Ukraine, OSCE call on Russia to speed up prisoner swap Ukraine and the OSCE called on the Russian Federation to speed up preparations for the next phase of the mutual release of conflict-related detainees. 720 3 Previously in trend: Prisoner swap

Coordination HQ expects 300-prisoner swap with Russia on 6 March On 6 March, swap of 300 POWs with Russia is expected – Coordination Headquarters Tomorrow, 6 March, a swap involving 300 military prisoners of war with Russia is expected. 1 107 3 Previously in trend: Prisoner swap

clearing the building DIU Special forces carried out successful clearance operation in Zaporizhzhia sector: occupiers were driven out of residential buildings The "Chimera" unit, part of the "Tymur Special Forces Unit" of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence, carried out a successful operation to clear one of the settlements in the Zaporizhzhia sector. This was reported by Censor.NET, citing the Main Intelligence Directorate’s press service. 5 796 4 Previously in trend: Fightings in the Zaporizhzhia direction

бій Group of Ukrainian soldiers clears positions of occupiers near Bakhmut Ukrainian soldiers cleared the position of the occupiers near Bakhmut. 14 445 3 Previously in trend: War