At least 177 Ukrainian POWs have died in Russian captivity, Kyiv says
Most Ukrainian soldiers who were released had never been visited by the Red Cross representatives while in Russian captivity, Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets said in July.
Prisoners of war
Opinion: Silent victims of sexual violence, Ukraine’s male POWs deserve real support
This article contains descriptions of physical and sexual violence, which may be disturbing to some readers. Reader discretion is advised. Forced nudity during “welcome beatings,” naked “crouch walking,” and gratuitous stripping and body cavity searches are but a few examples of the abuse Viktor Lakhno, 26, a former prisoner of
African POWs on how they ended up fighting for Russia
In this exclusive interview, the Kyiv Independent interviews Somali and Sierra Leonean prisoners of war who fought for Russia in its war against Ukraine.
Ukraine war latest: 1 million killed, wounded in Russia's full-scale war in Ukraine, WSJ reports
Key developments on Sept. 17: * Around 1 million killed, wounded in Russia's full-scale war in Ukraine, WSJ reports * Ukraine destroys Russian ammunition depots near occupied Mariupol, Navy says * None of Ukraine's plans to end the war envisages ceasefire, ceding territory, Podolyak says * Russia reportedly executes POW with sword, Kyiv appeals
Russia reportedly executes POW with sword, Kyiv appeals to UN, Red Cross
On the morning of Sept. 17, a photo of an allegedly executed Ukrainian soldier with a sword in his chest and the inscription "For Kursk" appeared on social media. Remnants of gray tape are visible on the soldier's hand.
'Ukraine can keep them' — Chechen commander renounces compatriots who surrendered to Kyiv
Chechen commander Apti Alaudinov on Sept. 15 said that fighters who willingly surrendered to Ukrainian forces do not deserve to live and should "do everything they can to get themselves killed."
103 Ukrainian POWs returned from Russian captivity, including 23 Azov fighters
"The vast majority of those released are people who had been held (in captivity) since the first days of the war,” said Ukraine's Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets in a statement.
49 Ukrainians released from Russian captivity
Ukraine brought back 49 Ukrainian defenders and civilians from Russian captivity on Sept. 13, President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
Canada to host conference on release of captured, deported Ukrainians in October
"We must find a solution for all groups held by Russia: civilians, prisoners of war and children," said Andrii Yermak, who held an online meeting with Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly.
Russian POW phone call restrictions spotlight Ukraine, Russia’s treatment of prisoners
Last week, Ukraine’s Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets announced that Russian prisoners of war (POWs) would no longer be able to make phone calls to relatives. They are still allowed to communicate through letters, meeting Geneva Convention requirements, he noted. The decision came after recent increases in reports of violations of
Russian POWs no longer allowed to call relatives, ombudsman says
Russian prisoners of war (POWs) held in Ukrainian camps are no longer allowed to make phone calls to their relatives, Ukraine's Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets announced on national television on Sept. 7.
Ombudsman appeals to UN, Red Cross over alleged execution of Ukrainian POW by Russia seen on video
The footage purportedly shows a Russian soldier who asks a Ukrainian soldier if he wants to "say the last word, pray before dying," and then shoots him with a rifle three times.
Russian contract soldier turned POW on his capture near Kursk
At an undisclosed detention facility, the Kyiv Independent interviewed one contract soldier captured in Kursk Oblast. To convey a better idea of what the thoughts and motivations of the average Russian soldier are in 2024, we are publishing this interview in full.
Russian troops apparently kill surrendering Ukrainian soldiers near Pokrovsk, CNN reports
Russian forces seem to have summarily executed a group of surrendering Ukrainian soldiers near Pokrovsk in late August, CNN reported on Sept. 6, publishing an exclusive video.
Ukraine war latest: At least 7 killed, over 70 injured in Russian attacks on Lviv, Kryvyi Rih
Key developments on Sept. 4: * Casualties reported in Lviv, Kryvyi Rih as Russia launches another mass attack on Ukraine * Ukrainian military uses 'dragon drones' against Russia, Defense Ministry says * Germany orders 17 IRIS-T air defense systems for Ukraine, Scholz says * Ukraine, Ireland sign agreement on cooperation, support * Russia executed 3
Russia executed 3 Ukrainian POWs in Donetsk Oblast, prosecutors say
Earlier, a video circulated on Telegram that showed three Ukrainian soldiers coming out of a basement with their hands up. The Ukrainians were then apprehended by Russian soldiers, placed face down on the ground and summarily shot.
Russian court sentences Ukrainian soldier captured in occupied Crimea to 20 years in prison
According to Russia's Prosecutor General's Office, Oleksandr Lyubas was part of a small group of Ukrainian soldiers who attempted to conduct an amphibious operation on the peninsula and was captured in the process.
Venezuela extradites 2 Colombians to Russia for fighting in Ukraine
Russian authorities detained two Colombian nationals who fought for Ukraine, Russia's Security Service (FSB) said on Aug. 30. The two Colombian men were extradited from Venezuela after being detained by Venezuelan authorities during a layover in Caracas, on-route back home to Colombia.
Russian POWs on their capture in Kursk Oblast: ‘Commanders just disappeared'
Halfway down a narrow corridor painted all in gray, the guard wrestles with a bulky lock to gain entry to the prison cell. Inside are around twenty young men, sitting on a criss-crossing pattern of metal bunk beds. In the corner of the room, plastic cups and books are stacked
115 Ukrainian soldiers returned from Russian captivity, Zelensky confirms
Among those brought back were soldiers from the National Guard, army, navy, and the State Border Guard Service.
Ukrainian forces storm penal colony in Kursk Oblast where Ukrainian prisoners were held, human rights activists say
The seizure of the penal colony will be an important step in documenting war crimes committed by Russia against prisoners of war, Media Initiative for Human Rights reported on Aug. 23.
Russian prosecutors seek up to 24 years in prison for 23 Ukrainians who served in Azov Brigade
The Russian Prosecutor's Office claimed that all the prisoners expressed "negative attitudes toward the Russian-speaking population" and supported "pro-Ukrainian radical views."
Ukraine in control of 92 settlements in Russia's Kursk Oblast, Zelensky claims
Ukrainian forces are in control of 92 settlements and more than 1,250 square kilometers of Kursk Oblast in Russia as the incursion into the region continues, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Aug. 19.
UN representative in Ukraine reports torture of Ukrainian POWs in Russian captivity
The head of mission for the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, Danielle Bell, reported that Ukrainian prisoners of war held in Russia and occupied Ukrainian territories are systematically subjected to torture.
Freedom of Russia Legion calls on Russian soldiers to surrender, switch sides amid Kursk incursion
The legion called upon Russian soldiers to "surrender to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, as (their) comrades did." Those who "want to continue fighting for the normal future of Russia" were invited to join the unit.
Ukraine captures over 100 Russian, Chechen soldiers in a day in Kursk Oblast, source says
Ukrainian special forces captured 102 Russian and Chechen soldiers in Kursk Oblast on Aug. 14, a source in the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) told the Kyiv Independent on Aug. 15.
Azov soldier Ishchenko died in Russian captivity due to 'blunt force trauma,' report shows
Azov Brigade soldier Oleksandr Ishchenko died in Russian captivity due to a blunt force trauma to his chest, according to a forensic expert report, published by Azov deputy commander, Sviatoslav Palamar on Aug. 7.
Ukraine's project helps to locate 588 missing Russian soldiers
Some 533 of the Russian soldiers were found alive among the number of POWs, and 100 of them had already been released to Russia as a part of a prisoner exchange.
Ombudsman appeals to UN, Red Cross over alleged execution of Ukrainian POW by Russia
The photo, which is circulating on social media, shows the body of a person with his head and limbs cut off. It is unknown when the photo was taken. The Kyiv Independent was unable to verify it.
Azov soldier Oleksandr Ishchenko dies in Russian captivity, Ukraine's Ombudsman says
Ishchenko was 55-years-old and a native of Mariupol, Ukrainska Pravda reported. He joined the Azov Brigade as a driver shortly after the launch of Russia's full-scale invasion and was captured in Mariupol in 2022.
Ukraine announces charges in absentia of 2 pro-Russian collaborators over Olenivka POW killings
The Prosecutor General's Office said the investigation involved statements from 20 victims and 30 eyewitnesses, as well as forensic evidence of those killed. The two unnamed Russian commanders have been charged in absentia with violating the laws of war.
2 years after Ukrainian POWs killed in Olenivka camp explosion, no one prosecuted
Two years after an explosion killed at least 54 Ukrainian prisoners of war and injured over 150 more at a penal colony in Russian-occupied Olenivka, Donetsk Oblast on July 28-29, 2022, no one has been held accountable as Russia continues to block investigation efforts.
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