POWs
ICRC confirms it has had no access to Ukrainian POWs for two years
Russia has denied the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) access to Ukrainian prisoners of war held in Russian detention since 2024. “We can confirm the lack of access to POWs in Russia since 2024,” an ICRC spokesperson told Reuters on September 18.
Citizens of 51 Countries Held as Prisoners of War in Ukraine
Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine have announced the launch of StopRussianRecruiters.org, an information platform documenting and exposing Russia’s deceptive recruitment of foreign nationals into its armed forces. The project also provides information about foreign prisoners of war held in Ukraine and calls on the governments of their respective countries to take diplomatic action to secure their return.
The UN Security Council holds an Arria-formula meeting on Ukrainian POWs
On August 10, the UN Security Council held an Arria-formula meeting at UN Headquarters in New York, dedicated to Russia's systematic violations of international humanitarian law against Ukrainian prisoners of war, civilian detainees, and foreign nationals. The event was convened by Latvia and the United Kingdom at Ukraine's initiative.
Russia forms military unit from Ukrainian POWs in violation of the Geneva Convention
Russia has formed a new military unit made up of Ukrainian prisoners of war and former servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The creation of the so-called "First Ukrainian Volunteer Special Purpose Brigade" became known on August 6. The unit was incorporated into the "Volunteer Corps" of Russia's Ministry of Defense.
Fourth anniversary of the Olenivka attack: memorial installation unveiled in Kyiv
A permanent memorial installation commemorating the victims of the Russian terrorist attack in Olenivka has been unveiled at Mykhailivska Square in Kyiv, the Association of Azovstal Defenders’ Families announced.
EU imposed sanctions on the heads and staff of colonies where Ukrainian POWs are tortured
On 13 July, the Council of the European Union adopted a decision imposing restrictive measures on 15 individuals and one entity responsible for violations of the rights of Ukrainian prisoners of war and unlawfully detained civilians. Most of those listed are heads and staff of penal colonies where prisoners are held.
Around 700 Azov POWs in captivity, over 250 already sentenced: presentation of the Civic Evidence report
On June 30, in Kyiv, at Ukrinform, the independent initiative Civic Evidence presented its report "The Honorable Captivity of Azov: How Propaganda, Violence, and Trials Shape the Fate of Ukrainian Prisoners of War in Russia." The study focuses on the situation of Ukrainian prisoners of war from the Azov regiment and exposes a mechanism that combines Russian propaganda machinery, practices of torture, and fabricated criminal prosecution. The authors document the systemic nature of Russia's violations of international humanitarian law and call for strengthening international mechanisms to protect prisoners of war.
Russian medics torture prisoners of war: a new study by human rights defenders
On 24 June, the Center for Civil Liberties presented the analytical study "Anatomy of Torture" in Kyiv. The document examines the role of Russian medical personnel in the torture of Ukrainian prisoners of war and illegally detained civilians.
“We are all significantly falling short,” Denys Prokopenko comments on the 75th prisoner exchange
On June 5, 2026, the 75th prisoner exchange took place. As part of the exchange, 185 prisoners of war and one civilian – who had been held captive by the Russians since 2022 – returned to Ukraine. This was reported by the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, which expressed gratitude to the United States and the UAE for their assistance in organizing the exchange.
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