Russian captivity

UNESCO urges full probe into journalist Viktoria Roshchyna's death in Russian captivity

UNESCO called for a thorough and transparent investigation into the death of Ukrainian journalist Viktoria Roshchyna in Russian captivity, according to Taufik Djelassi, UNESCO's deputy director-general for communication and information on Dec. 5.

5 December 2024, 06:42 PM

Six Ukrainian mayors and community leaders remain in Russian captivity — Volodymyr Zelenskyy

As of December 2024, at least six Ukrainian mayors and community leaders are being held captive by Russia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said during the international human rights conference "Decade 2014–2024: Reclaiming Human Rights, Preserving Democracy" on Dec. 5.

5 December 2024, 03:35 PM

Ukraine has returned 3,767 citizens from Russian captivity since invasion

Since Russia's full-scale invasion began, Ukraine has freed 3,767 citizens from captivity, including 186 civilians, Human Rights Commissioner Dmytro Lubinets said on Nov. 20.

20 November 2024, 06:56 PM

Parliament passes law offering draft exemptions for former civilian captives and families affected by war

Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada passed a law granting draft deferments to civilians who survived Russian captivity, as well as simplifying deferment processes for relatives of missing persons, MP Oleksiy Honcharenko reported on Nov. 20.

20 November 2024, 02:11 PM

Ukrainian military couple captured defending Mariupol shares harrowing story

Andriy and Olena Turas, members of Ukraine's 36th Marine Brigade, defended Mariupol at the onset of the invasion before being captured, reports Suspilne Chernihiv on Nov. 5.

5 November 2024, 05:25 PM

Ukraine returns almost 4k citizens from Russian captivity, most requiring medical treatment and rehabilitation — Zelenskyy

Ukraine successfully returned 3,767 citizens from Russian captivity, most required long-term medical treatment and rehabilitation after enduring torture, humiliation, and hunger in Russian prisons, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Oct 21.

21 October 2024, 12:57 PM

National Guard officer Mykyta Shaulskyi freed from Russian captivity

Mykyta Shaulskyi, a serviceman with Ukraine's 21st National Guard Brigade, has returned from Russian captivity, journalist Diana Butsko reported on Oct. 19.

19 October 2024, 05:02 PM

Ukrainian journalist Viktoria Roshchyna dies during transfer to Moscow

Journalist Viktoria Roshchyna, who previously worked for Hromadske, has died while being transferred from Taganrog to Moscow, according to an official report received by her father, Hromadske reported on Oct. 10.

10 October 2024, 04:35 PM

At least 177 Ukrainian soldiers have died in Russian captivity since 2022

At least 177 Ukrainian soldiers have died in Russian captivity since the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022, Politico reported, citing Victoria Tsymbalyuk, a representative of the Coordinating Staff for the Treatment of Prisoners of War on Oct. 4.

4 October 2024, 06:45 PM

Protesters gather at Red Cross office in Kyiv, demanding information on POWs

Families of Ukrainian prisoners of war protested outside the International Committee of the Red Cross office in Kyiv on Aug. 29, chanting "Shame," Olha Reshetylova, coordinator of the Media Initiative for Human Rights reported on Facebook.

29 August 2024, 09:02 PM

Ukraine frees 115 military personnel from Russian captivity

Ukraine secured the release of 115 soldiers, including National Guard, Ukrainian Armed Forces, Navy, and State Border Guard Service members, from Russian captivity, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Aug. 24.

24 August 2024, 04:36 PM

Zelenskyy details plan to bring Ukrainian captives back from Russia

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Aug. 15 that Ukrainian services have developed a strategy to secure the return of Ukrainian citizens held in Russian captivity.

15 August 2024, 06:16 PM

Nearly all Ukrainian POWs tortured in Russian captivity

Over 95% of Ukrainian soldiers held in Russian captivity have been subjected to torture, the head of the United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, Danielle Bell, told Dutch TV channel Nederlandse Omroep Stichting on Aug. 2.

7 August 2024, 06:59 PM

Zoya Shu’s photos reveal brutal treatment of Ukrainians in Russian captivity

Ukrainian photographer Zoya Shu, who has been documenting the impacts of Ukrainian captivity in Russia, shared several stories with The Guardian on July 25.

2 August 2024, 03:05 PM

Russia frees WSJ journalist Evan Gershkovich, Marine Paul Whelan in prisoner exchange

Russia released WSJ journalist Evan Gershkovich, who was sentenced to 16 years, as part of a multilateral prisoner exchange, Bloomberg reported on Aug. 1, citing sources.

1 August 2024, 07:25 PM

Over 110 Ukrainian soldiers executed in Russian custody, investigation underway

The International Criminal Court (ICC) is collaborating with Ukrainian authorities to probe the alleged torture of Ukrainian service members in Russian prisons, a Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Office official reported on July 3.

3 July 2024, 05:26 PM

Ukraine secures release of priests, Mejlis official, and civilians held by Russia — Reunion video

Two Redemptorist priests, Deputy Head of the Crimean Tatar Mejlis Nariman Dzhelyal, and several civilians taken prisoner by Russia before the full-scale invasion have returned home, as shown in a reunion video shared by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on X on June 29.

29 June 2024, 12:42 PM

Ukraine-Russia prisoner exchange underway, further information imminent, says intelligence representative

The latest prisoner swap between Ukraine and Russia is not yet complete, and additional information will be announced soon, Andriy Yusov, a representative of Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence, said on national TV on June 26.

26 June 2024, 02:14 PM

Liberovs share shocking photos of Ukrainian soldiers after Russian captivity

Photographers Kostiantyn & Vlada Liberov posted horrific photos of Ukrainian defenders released from Russian captivity on their Instagram page on June 17.

17 June 2024, 05:57 PM

Ukraine accuses Russia of blocking POW returns, calls propaganda claims 'absolute lies'

Russia is not interested in returning its prisoners of war, Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets said in a comment to Ukrinform on June 15.

16 June 2024, 11:40 AM

Russian captivity

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