Russia occupied Anton’s home when he was 10. At 18, he volunteered to fight against Ukraine
Many Ukrainian-born prisoners told the BBC they joined Russia’s army willingly. Others described forced conscription.
Browsing Tag
prisoners of war
29 posts
Two officers, 101 soldiers—Ukraine’s newest homecoming from Russian cells
The group spans four years of the war, from the fall of Mariupol to captures made only months ago.
Captured Russian soldier describes 28-km crawl that killed most of his group before reaching Ukrainian lines
There, they were cut down from 16 to four and surrendered, the 71st Brigade says.
Russia starves most Ukrainian POWs, then “fattens” a few for exchange so they look normal, Ukrainian official says
Ukraine's intelligence confirms Russia is forming battalions from Ukrainian POWs and keeps cells where it feeds up prisoners.
“They laid down their weapons, raised their hands”: Russia has executed at least 345 surrendered Ukrainian soldiers on the ground
Dmytro Lubinets says the executions are a part of a systematic and rising pattern.
Russia calls them “volunteers.” They’re Ukrainian prisoners of war forced into a new combat brigade
Moscow's Defense Ministry merged several POW-based battalions and detachments into a single formation, escalating a practice ISW has tracked since late 2022.
Fighters from 51 countries now held in Ukraine after fighting for Russia, ombudsman says
The figure raises Ukraine's publicly stated minimum from more than 48 countries in May, as Moscow's foreign recruitment widens.
EU adopts largest sanctions package on Russia: 218 names and 100+ banks and crypto platforms among those on the list
Banks, refineries, drone parts, crypto exchanges: the bloc's 21st sanctions package reaches further into Russia's economy than any round before it.
Ukrainian regiment that raised flag in Kostiantynivka says it’s aware of reports that its soldiers were captured there
These are the same troops who filmed a flag-raising after clearing the center.
He was saving 99 goats’ worth of bride price. Russia sent him to die in Ukraine instead
A captured Kenyan told a Ukrainian journalist he signed what he believed was a security guard contract and learned he was in the Russian army only when they handed him a uniform.
Talks continue on Trump-brokered prisoner exchange with Russia after Putin claimed that Kyiv was not ready for swap
Russia announced a ceasefire for 8–9 May — its own parade dates. Ukraine proposed starting earlier, on the night of 6 May. Russia violated it.
193 Ukrainian troops freed from Russian captivity in major prisoner exchange
Wounded troops and defenders from five front-line directions among those freed, with US and UAE mediating.
Russian propaganda hailed Polish POW as defector — now Russia jails him for 13 years
Russia jailed 47-year-old Pole Krzysztof Flaczek for 13 years for fighting for Ukraine — as Moscow's own earlier "defector" propaganda about him quietly disappeared.
First glimpse in years— wife barely recognizes Ukrainian soldier after weight loss in Russia’s captivity
The family reunited again.
Ukrainian Azov soldier Belinov defended Mariupol for 86 days under encirclement. Russia called it terrorism and sentenced him to 27 years
Russia has now sentenced Bohdan Belinov twice for the same act — defending Mariupol during 86 days of siege. The second verdict absorbed the first and added four years. He is 28.
Ukraine brings home 300 more soldiers and two civilians on second day of POW swap — 500 freed in total over two days
Ukraine confirmed the final stage of the exchange agreed in Geneva, returning soldiers from across all branches — including Mariupol defenders held since 2022.
Russia revives debunked “secret prisons” lie about Ukraine torturing Russian POWs
Kremlin propagandists push baseless torture claims while Russian soldiers actually torture Ukrainian POWs
Russia blackmails families of Ukrainian POWs into registering Starlink terminals for its military, Kyiv says
Registration requires identity verification, making anyone who complies easily traceable.
157 Ukrainians return from Russian captivity in first POW swap since October 2025 (PHOTOS)
Among those freed are wounded servicemembers from across Ukraine's military branches, with 139 of the released prisoners held in Russian captivity since 2022.
Ukraine invites Ghana’s foreign minister and offers access to captured Ganaian mercenary who fought for Russia
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry confirmed it received an official request concerning the citizen’s return.