In the reality of POWs in Russian captivity

the reality of POWs in Russian captivity

Inferno is a project dedicated to documenting and systematising information from open sources about the conditions in which prisoners are held in Russian captivity.

Ukrainian prisoners of war endure systematic torture, psychological abuse, denial of medical care, and starvation in Russian captivity. Each of these practices is part of a deliberate state policy by Russia aimed at crushing Ukrainian resistance and erasing national identity.

At Inferno, we are committed to ensuring that crimes are not forgotten. We collect data, amplify the voices of prisoners, and advocate for accountability. The fight for justice continues — and we will not stop until it is won.

Map

List

Сlick on red-marked locations to uncover what Ukrainian POWs face in Russian captivity.

The map is based on open-source information and data from the Media Initiative for Human Rights

Сlick on a card to uncover what Ukrainian POWs face in Russian captivity.

Russia (RF)

Temporarily Occupied territories (TOT)

Makiivka Penal Colony No. 32 Sverdlovsk Penal Colony No. 38 Sukhodilsk Penal Colony No. 36 Kirovsk Penal Colony No. 33 Sokolohirsk (former Pervomaisk) Converted Detention Site Kalinin Penal Colony No. 27 Donetsk Pre-Trial Detention Centre No. 5 Volnovakha Penal Colony No. 120, Olenivka

Russia (RF)

Kizel Pre-Trial Detention Centre No. 2

Russia (RF)

Kamensk-Shakhtinsky Penal Colony No. 12

Russia (RF)

Kashin Pre-Trial Detention Centre No. 2

Temporarily Occupied territories (TOT)

Makiivka Penal Colony No. 32

Russia (RF)

Tula Penal Colony No. 1

Russia (RF)

Pakino Penal Colony No. 7

POWs

War Crimes

A Show Trial System: Russia Mass-Sentences Ukrainian POWs on Fabricated Charges

“I asked what crime I had committed, what evidence you have.” The answer was brief: “You were in Azov.” Show trials, torture-induced confessions, and fabricated charges constitute a systemic violation of international humanitarian law by Russia. Ukrainians in captivity are forced to endure this process, receiving sentences of 15, 25 years, or even life imprisonment.

Exchanges

POWs

First POW exchange in 4 months: 157 servicemen and civilians return to Ukraine

In a POW exchange conducted on February 5, 2026, 150 military members and seven Ukrainian civilians were released from Russian captivity. The exchange followed an announcement by Steve Witkoff, U.S. Special Presidential Envoy. He reported that an agreement to exchange 314 prisoners was reached during trilateral negotiations between Ukraine, Russia, and the U.S. in the United Arab Emirates.

Exchanges

POWs

Zelenskyy: Russia has halted the process of POW exchanges

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the Russians have halted the prisoner exchange process because they see no benefit in it for themselves. He told this while speaking to journalists, Ukrainska Pravda reported.

War Crimes

Human Rights Watch: Russians have systematically tortured Ukrainian POWs

Human Rights Watch, the international human rights organisation, has published a report based on testimonies of former Ukrainian prisoners of war. The organisation states that Russian authorities and military forces have systematically tortured and ill-treated Ukrainian POWs.

War Crimes

Russians executed five captured Ukrainian soldiers

The Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine reported that Russian military personnel deliberately shot Ukrainian soldiers who were in captivity. It occurred on the morning of November 27, 2025, in the direction of Huliaipole, Zaporizhzhia region.

POW exchange on October 2, 2025: 185 servicemen and 20 civilians were returned from Russian captivity

Exchanges

POWs

POW exchange on October 2: 185 servicemen and 20 civilians were returned from Russian captivity

On October 2, a combined exchange of prisoners of war took place, bringing 185 military personnel and 20 illegally detained civilians back to Ukraine. Some of them were released in accordance with agreements reached in Istanbul, while others were released as part of the regular exchange.

POWs

War Crimes

questions & answers

Inferno is an independent platform documenting prisons where Ukrainian prisoners of war are held by Russia. We collect and systematise open-source data to expose the full scale of abuse and human rights violations.

We rely on verified sources: testimonies of released POWs, investigative journalism, official documents, human rights reports, and open databases.

Yes. If you have credible information about a place of detention or the treatment of Ukrainian POWs, including testimonies, documents, or media, you can submit it through our contact form. You may choose to remain anonymous.

This project is run by a team of human rights defenders, journalists, and volunteers committed to exposing the truth and bringing every POW home.

Spread the word. Share the stories and raise awareness about Russia’s blatant violations of international law. Urge the International Committee of the Red Cross to take decisive action, fulfil its mandate, and gain access to Ukrainian POWs to verify their locations and conditions. Join or organise rallies in your city to remind the world of Ukrainian POWs and the horrific conditions they are held in. Support Ukraine’s defenders, donate to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. A Ukrainian victory is the most effective path to bringing our POWs home.

You can make a difference

Have a question, a message, or something important to share?

Whether it’s information, a concern, or a word of support, we want to hear from you.

Every voice matters.

This is not just a database. It’s a promise

A promise to every prisoner of war that they are not forgotten.

A promise to the world that we will not look away. That we will confront the truth and speak it out loud.

A promise to the future, that the facts will be preserved, that every act of cruelty will be recorded, and that justice, though delayed, will be pursued.

This project is a record, a witness, and a demand. Until every prisoner of war comes home, we will keep telling the world – they exist, they resist, and they matter.