News
Illegal sentences for Azov POWs: two Russian judges were notified of suspicion of a war crime
The Office of the Prosecutor General has notified two judges of the Southern District Military Court of the Russian Federation that they are suspected of committing a war crime – violating the right of prisoners of war to a fair and proper trial (Part 1 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).
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.
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.
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.
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: 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.
Russia withdraws from the Convention against torture
Russian President Putin has signed a law withdrawing from the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. The document was published on the official legal information portal of the Russian Federation.
OSCE experts have published a report on Russia’s crimes against Ukrainian prisoners of war
An independent mission of experts of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has published a report on Russia's treatment of Ukrainian prisoners of war. The report by experts of the OSCE Moscow Mechanism is a comprehensive international document focusing on the systematic nature of Russia's crimes against Ukrainian prisoners of war.
Prisoners of war and civilians were returned on Ukraine’s Independence Day
On August 24, Ukraine and Russia conducted an exchange of prisoners of war. Eight Ukrainian civilians were also returned. Among those returning home were servicemen from the National Guard, State Border Guard Service, Armed Forces, including soldiers from the Territorial Defense Forces, Air Force, Airborne Forces, and Navy. Almost all of them had been in captivity for more than three years.
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