Ukrainian prisoners

Parliament passes law equalizing rights of former convicts serving in military with other defenders

Ukraine's parliament passed law No. 15225, which grants soldiers who are former convicts the same legal rights as other Ukrainian defenders, public broadcaster Suspilne reported on July 14.

14 July, 06:13 PM

Conditions for Ukrainian prisoners improved after Viktoria Roshchyna’s death in Kizel jail

Conditions for Ukrainian prisoners in pre-trial detention center No. 3 in the Russian town of Kizel partially improved after the deaths of Ukrainian journalist Viktoria Roshchyna and Dniprorudne Mayor Yevhen Matvieiev, following an inspection at the facility, investigative outlet Slidstvo.Info reported on June 5.

6 June, 06:02 PM

EU sanctions 10 Russians over torture and death of Ukrainian journalist Roshchyna

The Council of the European Union imposed sanctions on 10 Russian citizens accused of torturing and causing the deaths of Ukrainian prisoners, including journalist Viktoria Roshchyna, the council said in astatement on Nov. 20.

21 November 2025, 02:43 AM

Russia jails locals on occupied territories, including teens

People in Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine are being kidnapped and tried as “spies” and “traitors,” with women and children among those convicted, the investigative outlet Vazhniye Istorii (Important Stories) wrote on Oct. 13.

13 October 2025, 02:41 PM

Prisoner swap between Ukraine and Russia has not taken place — statements from both sides

Ukrainian officials accused Russia of applying pressure and distorting the terms of the agreement, after the head of the Russian delegation at the Istanbul talks, Vladimir Medinsky, claimed that Ukraine had postponed the planned prisoner exchange, according to his Telegram post on June 7.

7 June 2025, 06:49 PM

Lists of Ukrainian POWs handed to Pope Leo XIV — Coordination Center

Newly elected Pope Leo XIV has received lists of Ukrainian soldiers held in Russian captivity, Ukraine’s Coordination Center for Prisoner of War Affairs announced on Telegram on May 15.

15 May 2025, 06:44 PM

Russia imprisons several Ukrainians abducted from occupied Melitopol

A court in Russia’s Rostov-on-Don sentenced five residents of occupied Melitopol, Zaporizhzhya Oblast, to lengthy prison terms on charges of establishing a “terrorist underground,” independent Russian media outlet Meduza reported on April 29.

30 April 2025, 02:03 AM

Moscow’s forced draft in occupied Ukraine sparks fury in Kyiv

Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry has condemned Russia’s forced conscription of Ukrainian citizens in temporarily occupied territories into the Russian military.

1 April 2025, 11:08 AM

Ukraine brings back 175 defenders in one of the largest POW swaps

On March 19, Ukraine successfully secured the return of 175 defenders from Russian captivity, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported.

19 March 2025, 05:54 PM

Zelenskyy: Ukraine ready for ‘all-for-all’ prisoner swap with Russia

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine is ready for a prisoner exchange with Russia in an “all-for-all” format on Feb. 24, the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion.

24 February 2025, 12:03 PM

Three Crimean political prisoners released after 9 years

After nine years in a Russian prison, three Crimean political prisoners from the "first Bakhchysarai group" case—Remzi Memetov, Zevri Abseitov, and Rustem Abiltarov—have been released, the human rights organization Crimean Solidarity reported on Facebook on Feb. 11.

11 February 2025, 06:58 PM

Horror stories from Russia’s ‘chamber of demons’

Detention Center 2 (SIZO-2) in Taganrog, Russia, which used to hold teenagers and women with children, has been turned into a torture chamber for Ukrainian prisoners of war (POW), the independent Russian outlet Mediazona wrote on Jan.9, describing the inhumane conditions of detention, beatings, and torture.

10 January 2025, 12:12 PM

Ukraine has returned 3,935 people from Russian captivity since the invasion began — Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, 3,935 people, including 3,767 servicemen, have been freed from Russian captivity, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Telegram on Dec. 8.

8 December 2024, 03:36 PM

Ombudsman appeals to UN and ICRC after Russia executes captured Ukrainian soldiers

Ukraine’s Commissioner for Human Rights, Dmytro Lubinets, has appealed to the UN and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) following the execution of two Ukrainian POWs near Selydove, Donetsk Oblast.

22 October 2024, 02:11 AM

SBU reveals exclusive video of Ukraine's prisoner exchange with Russia

Ukraine's Security Service released exclusive footage of a prisoner exchange that freed 95 Ukrainians, including 58 prisoners of war on Oct. 19.

19 October 2024, 11:35 AM

Draft law proposes temporary leave for Ukrainian prisoners in emergencies

The Cabinet of Ministers approved a draft law allowing certain prisoners temporary leave from colonies, government representative Taras Melnychuk said on Oct. 15.

15 October 2024, 05:52 PM

Papal envoy arrives in Moscow for talks on returning Ukrainian children and prisoners

Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, dispatched by Pope Francis, has arrived in Moscow to mediate the return of deported Ukrainian children and future prisoner exchanges between Russia and Ukraine, Vatican News reported on Oct. 14.

14 October 2024, 09:16 PM

UN finds new evidence of Russia torturing Ukrainian POWs

The UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine has uncovered new evidence of systematic torture by Russian authorities against Ukrainian civilians and prisoners of war in occupied territories and Russia.

23 September 2024, 10:21 PM

Ex-prisoners prove effective at front, says deputy commander

Allowing certain categories of convicts to join the Armed Forces was 'a rather successful decision,' said Maksym Zhorin, deputy commander of the Third Separate Assault Brigade, on Sept. 12.

12 September 2024, 05:17 PM

18 former female prisoners join Armed Forces as gunners and nurses

Eighteen women who received amnesty and were released from prison have already joined the Armed Forces and are participating in hostilities, according to the Main Directorate of Communications of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in response to a request from hromadske on Aug. 7.

7 August 2024, 05:39 PM

Ukrainian prisoners

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